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THE TRAIL OF 


THE GO- HAWKS 

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The mighty tribe of Go-Hawks sat in solemn 
conclave out behind the new barn. 


THE 

Trail of the Go-Hawks 


EMILIE BUCKMORE STAPP 

Author of ** Bread and 'LaiMf** 

Illustrations by Harrikt Macy 



The C M. Clark Publishing Company 

BOSTON. MASSACHUSETTS 
1908 


LIBRARY of CUNGRESS 
Two Copies Received 

NOV 25 1308 

Ccpyritrnt Entry _ 

^^wv.i3,\<=\o‘5 

CLASS OU XXc. No. 
COPY d. ! 


Copyright, 1908 

THE C. M. CLARK PUBLISHING CO. 
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS 
U. S. A. 


All Rights Rsssrvsd 


TO THE MEMORY OF MY 

WHOSE HEART WAS FULL OF LOVE FOR YOUTH 
IS THIS STORY DEDICATED 
AND TO ALL THOSE MOTHERS 
WHO NEVER FOR AN INSTANT DOUBT THAT 
A GOOD TO-MORROW WILL DAWN 
FOR THEIR BAD LITTLE BOYS AND GIRLS 
OF TO-DAY 



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CONTENTS 


CBAPTEK 

I 




. . . The Initiation .... 



PAGE 

1 

II 




. . . Consequences .... 



19 

III 




. Piggy Runt’s Discovery . . 



37 

IV 




. . The Little Mothers . . . 



63 

V 




. Napoleon's Temptation . . 



76 

VI 




. . . The Wedding .... 



88 

VII 




. . . A Circus .... 



104 

VIII 




. . . Half Mourning .... 



110 

IX 




. Prepared for the Worst 



126 

X 




. . Surprising the Cook . . . 



143 

XI 




. . . Retribution .... 



156 

XII 




The Dawning of Enterprise 



173 

XIII 




. A New Field of Activity . . 



188 

XIV 




The Beau Runter Agency 



204 

XV 




The Go-Hawks as Missionaries 



236 



JlluatralUinB 


The mighty tribe of Go-Hawks sat in solemn conclave 
out behind the new barn Frontispiece 

PAGE 

When her footsteps had died away the heads came 
quickly from under the bed clothes 25 

Soon the children were seated on the floor with their dolls 39 

For greater safety Napoleon stole behind a tree ... 83 

'Til write what you want'* 97 

They seated themselves in an even row across the lawn 124 
The youngsters filed quietly upstairs 143 

The boy lying on the river bank whistled softly to himself 173 

- f •' 

"May we speak to the biggest man in the bank who hasn't 
a wife nor a girlf" 

"Let's play we're soldiers starting off to war" . , . 


228 

249 





The Trail of the Go-Hawks 



The mighty tribe of Go-Hawks sat in sol- 
emn conclave out behind the new barn in 
Broken Arrow Town. It was a council of 
war and the chief of the tribe, Sitting Bull, 
had thrown into his speech the accumulated 
knowledge of his long and eventful life. He 
was ten years old and since the majority of 
his warriors were but eight, or at most nine, 


1 


THE TRAIL OF THE GO-HAWKS 


he felt he might properly speak with the 
authority born of experience. 

Had he not safely led the Go-Hawks through 
many a mighty raid on unprotected pantries? 
Who save Sitting Bull had dared to lead the 
invasion of melon patches and fruit trees? 
Neither mishap nor accident had been theirs 
until that fateful day when a newly admitted 
member turned traitor and, under the per- 
suasion of a stout birch rod and his father^s 
accusing eye, confessed between wails all that 
he knew of the Go-Hawks. What mattered 
that his downfall with the tribe was com- 
plete, that he was ignominiously expelled and 
snubbed by them when they met him on the 
street? What did it avail that these mighty 
warriors had slain ten geese in their famous 
battle of Goose Creek? They, too, had stem 
and law-abiding parents, with strict notions 
of duty and likewise insensible to the romance 


THE TRAIL OF THE GO-HAWKS 


of Indian raids on their neighbors’ property. 
Was it then strange that these warriors, whose 
bodies still tingled with the memory of that 
period of stress, felt a pardonable hesitancy 
when the question arose of admitting new 
members? 

'‘There ain’t no gittin’ ’round it those 
Trevellyn kids are daisies,” thoughtfully re- 
marked a freckle-nosed lad, whose eyes were 
inclined to squint. 

"Yep, an’ yer know, fellers, they showed 
us how t’ git into Aunt Sallie’s fruit closet 
an’ Jiminy Christmas! those pickled peaches 
taste like some more t’ me,” added another. 

"I can plainly see that th’ sentiment of 
th’ tribe is t’ ’nitiate th’ Trevellyn kids to- 
night. I’m glad you feel this way ’cause I’m 
sure they’ll be worthy editions t’ our tribe, 
so I’d like t’ suggest,” said Sitting Bull loftily, 
"that some of you kids make a movement t’ 


3 


THE TRAIL OF THE GO-HAWKS 

let in th^ Trevellyn kids to-night.” The day 
before he had attended a club meeting with 
his mother, and now struggled to put this 
experience to practical use. 

An embarrassing silence followed, for the 
young Go-Hawks understood the science of 
no ‘^movement” save that of their restless 
bodies. The chief then came, as a good 
chief should, to their rescue. ‘^Then Fll 
make that movement this time my own self, 
but you must learn how. I movement that 
we take in th^ kids an' if you've any just 
cause or thing against 'em, holler it now or 
else shut up thereafter.” The speaker was 
silent for a minute and then concluded im- 
pressively. ‘^Ev'ry Indian who'd like t' see 
this movement move, turn a hand-spring 
an' take his seat without a speck of noise.” 

One by one the Go-Hawks rose and turned 
a handspring, all save Rain-in-the-Face, who 


4 


THE TRAIL OF THE GO-HAWKS 


sat rigidly in his place on a bunch of straw, 
thoughtfully wiggling his brown toes. 

“Why didn’t you holler if you’ve got a 
kick cornin’?” interrogated Sitting Bull scorn- 
fully. 

“‘Tain’t much,” responded the boy slowly, 
“only I hate t’ play with girls with yeller 
curls a-danglin’. If they’d cut ’em off I’d 
just as soon they’d be Indians.” 

“ If that’s all your kick bring your mother’s 
scissors an’ to-night you can remove th’ ob- 
jections hair,” said Sitting Bull scornfully. 

“They mightn’t lenune me cut ’em off,” 
demurred Rain-in-the-Face. 

“Let you? I should say they’d let you 
for I tell you those kids are game. Do you 
still kick?” 

“Not me,” answered Rain-in-the-Face as 
he soberly turned a hand-spring. 

“The meetin’ is now sojourned,” announced 


5 


THE TRAIL OP THE GO-HAWKS 


Sitting Bull a little later. “ Be here at seven. 
Wear your war paint an’ feathers. Bring 
’long th’ pipe o’ peace, an’ Spotted Wolf, if 
you can get any more feathers out o’ your 
rooster’s tail, bring ’em, for th’ new Indians’ 11 
need ’em. Now hike, one by one, an’ not a 
word t’ anybody on pain of death,” warned 
the chief. ‘^I’ll bring th’ kids myself.” 

“Mother,” said the chief sweetly a half 
hour later, “it’s awful lonesome-like when 
you an’ father go t’ a dinner party. Would 
you care if I asked Miss Sallie t’ let th’ girls 
come over? I can’t get into trouble with 
just girls. I ’most forgot t’ tell you, mother, 
that I thought you were th’ prettiest lady 
at th’ club yesterday. May I go sometime 
again? It’s so kind o’ prespiring-like, you 
know.” 

“You mean, 'inspiring,’ dear,” answered 


6 


THE TRAIL OF THE GO-HAWKS 


Mrs. Carroll. presume it will be all right 
about to-night, but promise to be careful. 
So you were not ashamed of your mother at 
the club?^^ 

The boy laughed gleefully. Well, I should 
say not,’^ he answered, ^^an' say, mother, 
can^t we have pickled peaches? an^ some 
chocolate cakeM taste good, too.^^ 

The mother smiled and drew the young 
inquisitor close in her arms. ^^You are a 
regular little coax. Jack, but you are mine 
and I would not lose you for the world. Tell 
Mary that I said to have pickled peaches, 
chocolate cake — and the twins, oh, yes, do 
not forget the twins. You had better run 
along, dear, for it is growing late.^^ 

Jack needed no second dismissal and run- 
ning as fast as his sturdy brown legs could 
carry him, stood a few minutes later, cap 
in hand, in the Trevellyn library. 


7 


THE TRAIL OF THE GO-HAWKS 


^^Aunt Sallie, mother sends her love an^ 
says tell you that sheM be th^ gladdest she^s 
been for a long time if you could spare Pru- 
dence an^ Patience to tea this evenin\ She 
trusts you’ll not deny her th’ privilege. We’re 
goin’ t’ have chocolate cake.” 

Jack felt that he had made a speech worthy 
of his mother’s son and complacently awaited 
a reply. He loved to make speeches and had 
often listened to his mother as she practiced in 
preparation for the club meetings, thus acquir- 
ing confidence in his own oratorical powers. 

Miss Sallie was fond of Jack, as indeed 
seemed every one who came in contact with 
him, and when he delivered one of his speeches 
she enjoyed answering him in the same vein. 

^‘This is a great honor I am sure. Jack, and 
will be much appreciated by the little girls. 
Please present my compliments and thanks 
to your mother. May I ask you to walk 


8 


THE TRAIL OF THE GO-HAW"KS 


home with the girls at eight? If you will 
wait until I brush their hair they may return 
with you now” 

ril ^scort them home myself, Aunt Sallie, 
so you need not worry ’bout that,” answered 
the boy. 

The three children might have been seen 
an hour later holding a solemn conference 
underneath a cherry tree. The twins’ eyes 
were riveted on Jack and were round from 
excitement. 

'^Now listen to me, girls,” that worthy 
was saying with great dignity, 'Hhis is th’ 
tumin’-over point in your ignorant lives. 
You’re t’ be ’nitiated into th’ great tribe of 
Go-Hawks an’ thence thereafter you’ll be 
our squaws an’ follow us on th’ war path an’ 
only use your own names when in th’ land 
of pale faces. You’ll share our plunder, 
you’ll be protected by fourteen braves an’ 


9 


THE TRAIL OF THE GO-HAWKS 


your names ’ll be carved in blood on birch 
bark. If you die in battle your bodies ’ll 
be put in an Indian tree grave. Now,” con- 
cluded the speaker solemnly, his brown eyes 
large and earnest, ^Ho-night you must be 
brave whatever’s done, ’cause it’s a noble 
cause an’ worthy of a patriot. Will you 
swear t’ me that you’ll not holler, no matter 
what’s done?” 

An impressive silence followed. It was 
plain the twins were bowed down with re- 
sponsibility and well-nigh speechless at the 
proffered honor. 

I s’pose you’re really s’prised, girls, ’cause 
as a rule lodge’s don’t let in girls, but I’ve 
told our Indians that you were most trusting 
an’ would be worthy editions, too, an’ I do 
want you t’ be game when you’re ’nitiated.” 

''A\Tiat’s ’nitiated. Jack?” 

^^Oh, that’s what’s done t’ a man when 


10 


THE TRAIL OF THE GO-HAWKS 


he goes into anything. Everybody does some- 
thin^ t^ you so you^ll never forget — an^ then 
afterwards you^ll have a chance t^ get even 
when somebody else comes in.^^ 

What ^11 they do t’ us, Jack?’^ asked a 
timid voice. 

^^Yes, what’ll they do?” repeated the 
other. 

don’t just recollect for sure, but th’ 
point is never t’ let on you care even if you 
do, awfully — ” finished Jack a little doubt- 
fully as he glanced at the curls he secretly 
admired. 

^^We can let each other know if we care, 
can’t we?” wistfully inquired one of the 
prospective squaws of the invincible tribe of 
Go-Hawks. 

Oh, yes, I s’ pose that ’d do no harm. 
Now, if you’ll just make yourselves at home, 
eat all th’ cherries you can hold an’ sense me 


11 


THE TRAIL OF THE GO-HAWKS 


rU get on my uniform an^ we’ll go t’ Pawnee 
Dirt Lodge.” 

It did not take the chief long to make his 
preparations, namely, to remove his jacket, 
hang a blanket and a bow and arrow over 
his shoulders, put a daub of red paint on 
either cheek and feathers about his head. 
When he appeared he seemed most resplen- 
dent to his guests. 

^‘You’re just grand. Jack,” announced one 
little maid, while the other’s admiring eyes 
echoed the sentiment. 

The chief scorned to take other notice of 
the compliment than to walk with more 
dignity as he preceded his future sub- 
jects. 

^‘Be seated, ladies, on those old stumps,” 
Sitting Bull directed, as the trio rounded 
the bam named by the youngsters ^'Pawnee 
Dirt Lodge.” ^‘Little Smoke, light th’ pipe 


12 


THE TRAIL OF THE GO-HAWKS 


o’ peace/’ he instructed a boy of African 
blood, who needed no other paint than the 
swarthy brown given by birth. ^^Each man 
take one puff an’ get in order. Before we 
’tend t’ th’ most important bus’ness I’ll 
ask the committee on Eats t’ report.” 

^^Th’ best we could do,” piped a boyish 
treble, ''was two pies, a can o’ jam, some 
cold ham, six biscuits, a box o’ raisins an’ 
a cake o’ chocolate.” 

"I call that pretty good,” complimented 
Sitting Bull, " an’ we sure ’ll feast to-morrow. 
Is there a movement t’ accept this report on 
Eats?” he then asked, recalling his lesson of 
the previous afternoon. 

"I make t’ movement it,” responded one 
apt pupil. 

"Then it’s lifted — no, carried, I mean, an’ 
will th’ committee put th’ supplies in th’ 
secret cave?” While his order was being 


13 


THE TRAIL OF THE GO-HAWKS 


obeyed the chief took an extra puff at the 
corn-cob pipe. 

'^You girls get in th^ middle of th’ ring an' 
one of you Indians blind their eyes/' he com- 
manded a few minutes later. Young women, 
I must warn you that one squeak on your 
parts '11 bar you forever more out of th' 
tribe of Go-Hawks, 'cause we can't have 
squeaky girls in this company of Indians." 

The little girls trembled and clutched each 
other as they were blindfolded. They whis- 
pered courageously that they would die be- 
fore they would ‘^squeak," and then they 
thought fearfully of their new shoes, — ^what 
if they should squeak? They hoped for the 
best as they ran backwards, jumped sideways, 
turned handsprings, drank vinegar and re- 
peated with due solemnity the sacred ritual 
that would bind them to the tribe forever. 

Then said the chief, “ Rain-in-the-Face, 


14 


THE TRAIL OF THE GO-HAWKS 


you alone was objectioning to these worthy 
young women, so to you now falls th’ givin^ 
of th^ last dose. When thy right eye offends 
thee pluck it out so why not curls? 

Yes, but mebbe Aunt Sallie ’ll get mad,” 
ventured the gloomy Rain-in-the-Face. 

'‘Do your duty,” replied the chief sternly. 

The boy’s timid heart almost failed him as 
he clipped the silky hair. Now he held it in 
his own hands it seemed very different. 

"Divide th’ scalps of th’ pale faces among 
th’ braves,” instructed Sitting Bull, slipping 
into his own pocket a particular curl he had 
always admired. " Fellers, th’ Trevellyn kids 
are in us an’ of us. Give ’em three cheers an’ 
I’ll lick th’ first Indian who don’t look after 
’em always. When we’re in Broken Arrow 
Town or on th’ war-path our squaws must 
also be called by Indian names. You must 
all remember that never on pain of death 


15 


THE TRAIL OF THE GO-HAWKS 


can you call each other by our Indian names 
when th’ treacherous pale faces are near. 
Then you must call me 'Jack^ even though 
Fm your chief, ^Sitting Bull.’ This noble 
warrior who so bravely scalped our squaws 
is called by us ^ Rain-in- the-Face.’ Our ene- 
mies know him as ^Donald Brown.’ You 
squaws ’ll soon learn all our Indian names 
but guard well th’ secret. When in council 
we’ll call Prue, ^Whispering Leaves’ an’ 
Pat, ‘Running Water.’” 

Fifteen minutes later three Go-Hawks wen- 
ded their way to the Trevellyn home. They 
were a trifle silent. In the dim evening light 
first the hand of one child, then that of the 
other felt cautiously of her shorn hair. 

“You girls aren’t ’fraid t’ go in ’lone, are 
you?” asked Jack, doubtfully, as they reached 
the gate. “An’ — an’ I’m sorry if you care 
’bout your curls, but I couldn’t have Donald 


16 


THE TRAIL OF THE GO-HAWKS 


always stewin^, an^ I wanted him see you 
was what I said, game — an’ p’rhaps you’d 
better tell Aunt Sallie that ’twas an accident, 
that you was what I said an’ your hair got all 
tangled up together an’ that you couldn’t 
get home till it was cut off — or no — just say 
you regret it more ’n tongue-can-tell, but 
that misfortunes never come singly an’ 
that you was both beheaded at once; but I 
wouldn’t tell on Donald, anyhow.” 

The children lingered in silence by the 
gate. Jack felt it his duty to say something 
more and struggled to remember the words 
of the minister when he came to offer conso- 
lation the day his grandmother died. He 
believed they would now be appropriate if 
he could just recall them. My dear friends,” 
he began slowly, ‘^may th’ dear Lord re- 
strain you in your loss an’ th’ hairs of th’ 
heads are numbered, so prob’ly yours ’ll be 


17 


THE TRAIL OF THE GO-HAWKS 


much easier t’ count now. Even if an Eng- 
lish sparrow falls down He sees, so cheer up. 
I canT think of anything more t^ say, but 
Fll come over in th’ morning. Good-night!^' 
This last oratorical effort so sobered the 
chief that he did not whistle as he scampered 
home. Clinging fast to each other's hands 
the squaws slowly entered the house on tiptoe. 

^^Oh, if father is only insecting a bug," 
whispered one timidly. 

^^An' if Aunt Sallie has gone to bed with 
a sick headache," added the other as she 
softly followed her sister down the shadowy 
hall. 



Consequences. 


Professor Trevellyn sat in his study 
deeply engrossed in scientific research. As 
the clock struck ten the door opened and 
his sister entered. He was grateful in a 
vague sort of way for the peace and quiet of 
the evening; it was not always thus in the 
Trevellyn household. So satisfactory had 
been his work that he even smiled at the 
present interruption. Did you have a pleas- 
ant time?^’ he asked as his sister seated 
herself. 

^^Very. However, I did not intend to re- 


19 


THE TRAIL OF THE GO-HAWKS 


main so late. Did you see the children when 
they returned? I just went up to their room 
and they were both asleep. 

'^The children! Oh, yes, it seems to me I 
did hear them an hour ago. They stole past 
my door so softly that I thought best not to 
call them, but rather to encourage them in 
their wish to go quietly to bed.’’ 

Miss Sallie laughed and then her face grew 
very tender as she noticed a rose in the glass 
on the study table. Philip, I wish you had 
more leisure to devote to the little girls. 
Somehow, all day I have been thinking of 
Patience and how much better she could 
have guided these mischievous little ones 
than I.” 

Professor Trevellyn knew without words 
of what his sister was thinking as she glanced 
at the rose on his table, for he had often told 
her of the day he and his young wife hadj 


20 


THE TRAIL OF THE GO-HAWKS 


planted the rose-bush — the week before the 
twins came. 

^^The bush and the little one will grow to- 
gether/^ the wife had said. ‘T shall take 
such care of them both and how proud we 
shall be of them in years to come.^^ Her 
brown eyes had grown tender as she walked 
slowly through the garden, keeping step in that 
trim little way of hers with the longer strides 
of her husband. ‘^1 wonder what the years 
will bring to us,^^ she said gently. 

Philip slipped his arm about her. I 
would not worry, dear, for I am positive of 
one thing, and that is that we shall find them 
very sweet, the three of us together.^' 

“You really believe all will be well?^^ 
asked the young wife wistfully. 

“Certainly, dear,^^ he had answered earn- 
estly, and still to-night he recalled, how even 
as he had spoken those words with her face 


21 


THE TRAIL OF THE GO-HAWKS 


upturned to his, a sudden pang had entered 
his heart, — a nameless fear. “How could I 
bear to be separated from her?^^ he had 
asked himself. But he had lived on with- 
out her in the same house, in the very sight 
of all she had held dear as a bride; for when 
the two little girls were born the gentle 
mother-spirit made the supreme sacrifice, 
even life itself. 

The rose-bush had lived and so had the 
twins. In both cases there had been the 
same loving care and attention. At her 
brother's urgent request Miss Sallie had come 
to take charge of his home, temporarily, she 
supposed. The years drifted by, and the 
rose-bush, thrifty and luxuriant, was laden 
with fragrant blossoms and the twins were 
nine years old. 

Miss Sallie was a mother to the children, 
while the serious father saw but little of 


22 


THE TRAIL OF THE GO-HAWKS 


them. To him, the twins were much like two 
specimens purchased at a terrible sacrifice. 
When it became necessary to analyze and 
classify them he would do so, but he post- 
poned the operation from year to year. The 
girls at a very early age became familiar 
with Aunt Sallie’s weak points as a discipli- 
narian. They learned how to wheedle and 
coax her, to confuse and distract her and 
knew she would appeal to their father only 
in direst need. 

Fm not much Traid of Aunt Sallie,^^ 
Patience had whispered that evening as they 
hastily prepared for bed. Even when auntie 
gets maddest she talks so softly that I love 
to hear her.” 

^'Fm not goin^ to tell on Donald even if 
father sticks pins into us an' puts us on a 
card, like he does his bugs,” answered Pru- 
dence, whose imagination was active. 


23 


THE TRAIL OF THE GO-HAWKS 


Then they heard Aunt Sallie coming and 
scrambled into bed, feigning sleep as they 
had done many times before. “ Poor babies, 
she thought, as she stood looking at them. 
“ I hope they remembered to say their prayers. 
I wish their mother had been spared to 
them.’^ It was that yearning that sent her 
to her brother for a little talk. 

“Dear me! I wonder if it is raining in the 
children's room,'^ thought Miss Sallie, as the 
storm a few hours later rudely awakened 
her, and the wind blew a fine cold rain through 
her east window. With this thought she 
hastened out of bed and to the nursery, as 
they still called this little room. When she 
had lowered the window she slipped over to 
the bedside of the sleeping children. She 
found the quilt over their heads and attempted 
quietly to pull it down. 


24 



When her footsteps had died away the heads came 
quickly from under the bed clothes. 





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iH ' 41 # 






THE TRAIL OF THE GO-HAWKS 


^^Oh, Aunt Sallie, please don’t!” pleaded 
a small voice from somewhere in the depths 
of the bed clothes. 

My little girls are not afraid of the storm, 
are they?” she asked gently. 

‘^Not zactly ’fraid, auntie, but we don’t 
like t’ see th’ lightnin’ an’ our heads feel 
better down here.” 

^^An’ you know, auntie,” chimed in the 
other, ^^how sometimes one feels she’d rather 
be under somethin’.” 

^^Oh, it is all right with auntie, dears. I 
want you to be comfortable, that is all. 
Try now to sleep, my birdlings, and when 
you waken in the morning the sun will be 
shining. Sweet dreams!” 

When her footsteps had died away the heads 
came quickly from under the bed clothes. 

Let’s tell her in th’ mornin’ that we’re 
much more comfortabler with our hair out 


25 


THE TRAIL OF THE GO-HAWKS 


off an then mebbe she won’t care,” whispered 
Patience. 

^^An’ we’ll run away ’fore we’ll ever, 
ever ’ll tell on Donald, ’cause Jack said we 
mustn’t,” urged Prudence who adored the 
chief of the Go-Hawks. “I’m so sleepy,” 
she continued, “I guess I’ll go to sleep now 
an’ trust our hair t’ th’ Lord, ’cause I heard 
father say th’ Lord had always given him 
strength t’ bear his troubles.” With these 
words the little hands clasped each other 
tightly and the twins were soon fast asleep. 

Professor Trevellyn had spent a restless 
night. The brief conversation with his sister 
had opened wide the flood-gate of memory, 
and the scent of the roses, his wife’s beloved 
roses, had crept into his very soul. “Per- 
haps I have neglected the children,” he 
thought as he dressed, “but it has always 
seemed to me that if I did not work and 


26 


THE TRAIL OP THE GO-HAWKS 


work so hard that I should forget everything 
but work, I could not bear the pain of living 
without her” He seldom saw the children 
until they breakfasted with him, but this 
morning he went to their room to waken them, 
his little girls and Patience^s — dear Patience, 
the tones of whose sweet voice had never left 
him. 

When he went to their bed-side the children 
were still asleep. As he glanced at them the 
pleased expression on his face changed to a 
look of amazement. They resembled two 
small lads, for the long curls were entirely 
missing. He took off his glasses, rubbed 
them carefully and looked again. He then 
walked soberly to his sister's room. 

'^Sallie, why did you cut off the children's 
hair? It was really the prettiest thing about 
them and it curled just like their mother's," 
he said in an aggrieved voice. 


27 


THE TRAIL OF THE GO-HAWKS 


^'Cut ofif their hair!” she exclaimed in 
amazement as she joined him in the hall. 
‘‘ What do you mean? I certainly would never 
cut those pretty curls that were the pride of 
my life and I might say the torment/' she 
concluded as she thought of the many strug- 
gles to remove the tangles. 

^‘Do not say anything to them about it 
until after breakfast. Let us first hear their 
explanation/' instructed the professor as he 
went to his study for a half hour's work. 

Miss Sallie called to the children from the 
hall, not entering the room as was her custom. 
^*Put on your sailor suits, girls, and try not 
to be late to breakfast," she said, as she 
started down the stairs. 

The twins did not play and talk as much 
as usual while dressing, and when they 
entered the dining-room, their feet dragged 
woefully. 


28 


THE TRAIL OF THE GO-HAWKS 


^'Are you not feeling well?’’ asked the 
father with an amused twinkle in his eyes. 

‘‘Not so very,” replied Patience, ‘^an’ 
our heads sort of ache this morning.” 
The children seemed to have lost their 
appetites, and soon announced they were 
through breakfast and would go out on the 
lawn. 

Go into the study, please, and wait there 
for me,” directed the father quietly. 

The little ones knew that their hour of 
reckoning had come. just wish’t I was 
an old dead beetle,” observed one during 
the dreadful ten minutes of waiting. 

^‘Yes, ’cause if we were beetles father’d 
like us an’ now he never will,” mournfully 
answered the other. 

And then father came and took a little girl 
on each knee. He looked at them thought- 
fully in silence. 


29 


THE TRAIL OF THE GO-HAWKS 


shan^t tell, so there said one before a 
word had been spoken. 

^^Tell what, dear?’^ he asked, although he 
knew so well what troubled their hearts. 
^^Why, little girls and he put a hand on 
each head tenderly, where is the curly hair 
that father used to call his gold?^^ 

A portentous silence followed and the 
little brows puckered anxiously. ^^We don’t 
know — it — it — ^well, it got stuck together — 
and father — you wouldn’t want our heads 
all stuck together, would you?” concluded 
Patience in desperation, for, somehow, her 
father’s eyes were hard to meet. 

^^No,” he replied quietly without a shadow 
of a smile flitting over his face, I would not.” 

'‘We knew you wouldn’t an’ so we caused 
it removed,” was the triumphant reply. 

"Did you cut it off?” 

"No—” 


30 


THE TRAIL OF THE GO-HAWKS 


^^Who did?^^ 

Another long pause. 

you not tell father, please? 

Father, we promised we^d never tell an^ 
even if you stick pins into us like you do all 
your bugs we never, never ’ll tell ’cause we 
promised.” This was a rather long speech 
for Patience. Then something in her father’s 
face touched her little heart and she added, 
“we’re sorry if you care, but it’ll grow on 
again an’ please don’t cry.” 

At that critical moment there sidled into 
the room the brave chief of the Go-Hawks. 
He was bare-footed and his cap was resolutely 
pulled down over his eyes. At his heels pat- 
tered Aunt Sallie, her cheeks pink with ex- 
citement. 

“Professor Trevellyn, am I too late?” 
asked Jack anxiously as he took a determined 
stand by the small culprits. 


31 


THE TRAIL OF THE GO-HAWKS 


Professor Trevellyn looked at the lad 
gravely. ^'John, I am indeed surprised. 
Young men who promise to bring little girls 
home safely after nightfall usually refrain 
from cutting off their hair while doing so.^^ 

The lad’s face flushed. In all his careless 
little life no one had called him a young 
man, and to have the professor do so made 
his ten years seem full of importance. He 
determined to protect the twins at any sacri- 
fice of self. 

“Professor Trevellyn, will you please send 
the ladies from the room and we’ll fight it out 
like men,” he suggested gravely. 

“ Certainly, John,” was the response. “ Sal- 
lie, please take the girls with you.” 

“But, but — f-a-t-h-e-r — ” wailed Prudence, 
as she was being led from the room, 
“please don’t punish Jack, ’cause he never 
did it.” 


32 


THE TRAIL OF THE GO-HAWKS 


The father closed the door without com- 
ment and then turned sternly to the lad. 

John, I want you to tell me truthfully who 
is to blame for this.^' 

“I — well, Patience and Prudence are not. 
They never did it an’ you would be proud of 
’em if you’d have seen how brave they were 
’bout it — an’ — ” 

^^And what, John?” 

I guess it ’d be better for me to take all 
th’ blame,” he answered slowly. 

^^Did you cut off their hair?” 

N — o, not exactly — but I — I — felt confi- 
dential it ’d have t’ be cut t’ save their repu- 
tations.” 

The professor coughed slightly as he turned 
his face away for an instant. Will you not 
tell me, John, who did do it?” 

The little chap threw his cap on the floor 
and then squared his shoulders saying slowly, 


33 


THE TRAIL OF THE GO-HAWKS 


Professor Trevellyn, if you want whip me 
you can do it, but I will not tell. Pm at th' 
head of this organization an’ you couldn’t 
help but disrespect a chief who would go 
back on one of his very own Indians, would 
you?” 

The man looked at the boy with a new 
light in his eyes. Jack’s fearlessness ap- 
pealed to him. ^^John, be very sure always 
that you are right and then stick to it as you 
have to-day. You may go now,” he con- 
cluded, and turned abruptly to his desk. 

As he went down the hall Jack saw Miss 
Sallie seated by the library window. He 
was really fond of her and smothered the de- 
sire to hurry away without discussing further 
the clipped hair of his playmates. Ap- 
proaching her he said gravely, ^^I’m sorry 
’bout their hair. Aunt Sallie. Nobody cut 
it off t’ be mean. Don’t you want t’ come 


34 


THE TRAIL OF THE GO-HAWKS 


over an^ see my mother^s roses? They^re 
’bout th’ color of your cheeks I should say/’ 
he said shyly, “an’ very pretty. I’d like to 
stay here longer now, but I guess I’d better 
hurry,” he concluded hastily. 

Miss Sallie laughed notwithstanding the 
vexation she felt and then said reproachfully, 
“Why were you so naughty. Jack? Think 
how long it will be until they have pretty 
curls again. I thought I could trust you, 
dear.” 

“Aunt Sallie, let’s don’t bother our heads 
over things that worry. It’ll be lots better. 
Their hair ’ll be so much easier to comb now 
an’ I’m sure it’ll be more — more — ” Jack 
paused, searching for a word with which 
he might hope to end the discussion. “It’ll 
be healthfuler, you know, an’ accidents 
will happen — an’ it’s better to remember, no 
I mean to forget it all.” 


35 


THE TRAIL OF THE GO-HAWKS 


With these words the chief of the Go- 
Hawks donned his battered cap and hurried 
away. 



36 



Piggy Runt^s Discovery. 


Among the schoolmates of Patience and 
Prudence the delight in parties was almost 
an epidemic. Miss Sallie was inclined to en- 
courage the twins to attend them all since it 
was in harmony with her old-fashioned ideas 
of propriety that they should play with 
girls rather than with boys who knew no 
better than to cut off their hair. Even a 
fortnight of good behavior on the part of 
the twins, a result of their subdued state of 
mind, could not begin to reconcile her to 


37 



THE TRAIL OF THE GO-HAWKS 


the loss of the pretty curls. As for the twins, 
their new gentleness and inactivity were not 
entirely due to remorse, but to an uncomfort- 
able habit their father had acquired of laying 
his hand on the shorn hair and sighing audi- 
whenever they passed near him. 

‘‘I just wish ^t father M scold,” said Pa- 
tience dolefully, one noon as she and her 
sister had kissed him good-bye and he had 
sighed even more regretfully than usual. 

know he liked our hair, but we ought to 
be brave in times of 'fliction. Course he 
cared — but — ” 

‘^But he donH know we^re game squaws, 
does he?” interrupted Prudence earnestly. 
“Jack said all the Indians thought we were 
game not t^ holler when Donald cut off our 
hair an^ not t^ tell on him afterwards. Sure, 
Father ^d be proud of us if he only knew 
that, wouldn^t he?” 


38 



Soon the children were seated on the floor 
with their dolls. 





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.4 


THE TRAIL OF THE GO-HAWKS 


I s^pose so, but he says he misses our hair 
like everything, an’ I heard him tell auntie t^ 
let us go to all th^ girls^ parties, ^ cause — well, 
I don^t emember why — 

We’re t’ take our dolls to-day to th’ 
party, aren’t we? Let’s dress ’em.” Soon 
the children were seated on the floor with 
their dolls and a pile of dolls’ clothes near 
them. 

^‘Did you know you’re goin’ to a party, 
darling?” asked Patience of her blue-eyed 
dolly. ^‘Let mama dress you,” she whis- 
pered. ^^You can wear your pretty blue 
dress. Oh! You little precious!” she later 
exclaimed in delight when the doll was 
dressed to her perfect satisfaction. Is your 
child ready. Miss Trevellyn?” she asked her 
sister. 

^^Yes, thank you, but Susanna’s not very 
well to-day an’ I think she’d better stay at 


39 


THE TRAIL OF THE GO-HAWKS 


home/’ answered Prudence, imitating her 
elders, who had used a similar expression in 
regard to herself. 

“ Fm sure my daughter ’ll be pleased to 
take care of your child an’ see that she does 
not run herself all out of breath — children 
are so — so unsponsible, don’t you think so?” 

‘^Yes, they are,” drawled the other little 
mother. ^^My child often has it.” She had 
no idea what the word meant, but she wished 
her doll to have any fashionable ailment. 

don’t know whether Susanna’s well ’nough 
to go to th’ party or not?” 

^^Oh, I’d let her go if I were you,” urged 
Prudence. 

Just then Aunt Sallie came to dress the 
girls. Are the dolls all ready?” she asked 
kindly. ‘‘How pretty they look,” she con- 
tinued, as each was held up for inspection. 

At these words of praise the small mothers’ 


40 


THE TRAIL OF THE GO-HAWKS 


faces dimpled with happiness and its after- 
glow still lingered as they started down the 
street to the party, wheeling their go-carts. 

Piggy Runt had thrown himself down 
disconsolately behind the back terrace. He 
was decidedly out of sorts. Every warrior 
in the tribe of Go-Hawks, at least so it seemed 
to him, had gone fishing that afternoon, 
while he had to stay at home to run errands 
and pick pansies for a girPs party. 

Piggy^s younger sister was giving the party 
and he was invited. But what had a warrior 
like Piggy to do with such frivolous affairs 
as girls’ parties? He scorned the invita- 
tion and stubbornly refused to change his 
clothes on the eventful afternoon. His mother, 
therefore, had decreed that he should re- 
main at home in the back yard, so that he 
might easily be found when needed. He was 


41 


THE TRAIL OF THE GO-HAWKS 


instructed to carry in the ice-cream freezer 
when called to do so, but the cook had her 
orders to give to him neither the spoon nor 
the dasher to scrape, and if there was any- 
thing Piggy loved it was ice-cream. 

Even Napoleon had gone whistling by, 
grinning apishly over the back fence at 
Piggy. '^They say fishings awful good to- 
day,’^ he called pleasantly as he passed. 

That was the last straw and Piggy thought 
only of revenge as he threw himself on the 
ground. “Pd like V scalp girls coz they^s 
a-forever a-doin’ somethin^ that knocks a 
man out an^ fishin’ awful good too,^^ he 
muttered. Makes me tired, — th’ hull busi- 
ness makes me tired, so it does.’i 

His revery was interrupted by two little 
figures crossing the lawn, carefully wheeling 
their dolls. ^^The Trevellyn kids, by guml’^ 
he exclaimed. Wouldn’t that make th’ 


42 


THE TRAIL OF THE GO-HAWKS 


baby squeal? Squaws of th' Go-Hawks wheel- 
in’ dolls to a girl’s party that makes a brave 
stay home. Don didn’t like their hair, but 
curls are nothin’ t’ dolls.” 

A wicked thought flashed into Piggy’s mind. 
He really liked the twins and had no serious 
objections to them, but it offended his manly 
dignity to see them clinging thus to the joys 
of infancy. Out of sorts with the world 
himself, he wished to make some one else 
unhappy. He determined then and there to 
call the tribe together that very night and 
demand that dolls share the fate of curls. 
After he had made this resolution he felt 
better and even bore heroically the loss of 
the ice-cream, and heard the musical click 
of the spoons and plates with indifference. 
He had made a discovery and thrilled with 
excitement at the thought of the evening 
when he should demand satisfaction. 


43 


THE TRAIL OF THE GO-HAWKS 


The nervous tension increased, as one by 
one the Go-Hawks filed by, homeward bound. 
He whispered over the back fence to each one 
that the tribe must meet that night. ‘^All 
but th^ squaws,’^ he added to the chief. 

Donald never could bear to have his curi- 
osity aroused and not satisfied, so he jumped 
over the fence, loitering a few minutes, al- 
though he knew it was dangerously near the 
dinner hour. ‘^What^s a-doin’. Piggy? he 
asked his brother Go-Hawk. Piggy yearned 
to tell. He knew that his playmate would 
sympathize deeply with him, for, as Jack 
expressed it, there was nothing Donald liked 
to do so well as to objection to everything. 

‘'What '11 yer gi' me if I tell?" asked 
Piggy, with his hands in his pockets while he 
spat upon the ground. 

Donald thought it over. He was not much 
of a boy to drive a bargain and yet he longed 


44 


THE TRAIL OF THE GO-HAWKS 


to know the secret. Fll give — well, Fll give 
you two fried cakes th' next time we make 
^em to our house.” 

Piggy loved the cakes and so the bargain 
was quickly concluded. “Those Trevellyn 
kids still play with dolls,” he whispered 
scornfully, “an’ they wheel ’em in silly baby 
buggies. I call that punk. They’re our 
squaws an’ they’ve got t’ give up foolishness 
or git out of th’ tribe.” 

Donald was entranced for he scented 
trouble. “That’s prezactly like it was with 
their curls a-danglin,’ an’ course we men 
won’t stand it.” The tribe had loyally pro- 
tected him in the matter of cutting off the 
hair, so he felt very brave about facing the 
new trouble. 

“You’ll stick by me?” asked Piggy. 

“Yep, an’ somebody’ll get hurt. Must 
hike now or mebbe I can’t come t’ th’ meetin’ 


45 


THE TRAIL OF THE GO-HAWKS 


to-night/’ With a knowing wink the lads 
separated to meet later in the evening. 

The sun had scarcely set before the Go- 
Hawks were in their lowly seats on stumps 
behind Pawnee Dirt Lodge in Broken Arrow 
Town. The childish faces were full of eager 
curiosity when Sitting Bull said solemnly, 
^^Our brave warrior, Piggy Runt, has called 
us together t’ tell us somethin’. While we 
were fishin’ this afternoon he scented danger 
an’ we may soon be on th’ war-path. Now 
Piggy, spit it out!” 

Piggy rose and swaggered to the front. 
Following close behind him was Rain-in- the- 
Face who had promised to stick by him. I 
can’t make speeches like sitting Bull,” began 
Piggy, '^but— ” 

'^Go on,” whispered Rain-in-the-Face en- 
couragingly, ain’t I with you?” 


46 


THE TRAIL OF THE GO-HAWKS 


^^Our squaws are playin^ with dolls/’ an- 
nounced the accuser. 

'‘Did you see ’em?” interrupted the chief. 

"Yep— they brung ’em t’ my kid sister’s 
party — wheeled ’em in baby buggies, too. I 
was shamed of ’em. Dolls, huh! Great big 
squaws with dolls!” 

"Yep — that’s just as bad as th’ curls,” 
chimed in Rain-in-the-Face, " an’ I movement 
we scalp ’em!” 

"Not th’ girls!” exclaimed Sitting Bull 
in horror. 

"No — th’ dolls — for we shan’t be in a 
tribe with dolls.” 

"Mebbe they’re just their pappooses. Can’t 
squaws take their pappooses out a-ridin’?” 
timidly asked a little chap with freckled face 
and red and watery eyes, who bore the ap- 
propriate name of 'Spotted Wolf.’ 

" Pappooses ! Shoot ! Pappooses — nothin’ 


47 


THE TRAIL OF THE GO-HAWKS 


but old saw-dust dolls. I tell you I saw ’em 
with my own eyes an’ I say gim me th’ real 
thing or gim me nothin’. ’Tain’t fair t’ us 
warriors.” As he spoke thus bravely Piggy 
struggled to hold his diminutive self as 
haughtily as possible. 

Sitting Bull looked vaguely troubled. 
don’t know what t’ say. You see, we’ve all 
got somethin’, dogs, rabbits, chickens or 
somethin,’ an’ it kind o’ seems like our squaws 
might have somethin’, too. I want t’ be 
fair.” 

‘^Huh! You like t’ play with girls an’ 
dolls, too, I s’pose, but we fellers don’t an’ 
I say you’ve got t’ get rid of these dolls or 
we’ll quit you,” announced Rain-in-the-Face. 

^'You’re th’ one who’s makin’ th’ fuss so 
you can tell us what t’ do ’bout it,” said 
Jack to Piggy, ignoring the last speaker. 

'^I’ve been a-thinkin’ we might do like it 


48 


THE TRAIL OF THE GO-HAWKS 


tells ’bout in our readers ’bout Joan of Arc, 
you know, burn th’ pris’ners at th’ stake. 
Long as we’re Indians we’d better scalp ’em 
first an’ then bum ’em up.” 

^^Mebbe th’ girls won’t let us,” remarked 
Rain-in-the-Face. 

They’d let us if they thought it was their 
duty,” quickly responded the loyal chief, 
^‘an’ I don’t s’ pose they ought t’ play with 
dolls, not out a-doors anyway where folks 
can see ’em.” 

Let’s all bring sticks of wood an’ build 
a big fire to-morrow afternoon,” suggested 
one enthusiastic boy with cruel eyes. 

An’ we’ll drive a broomstick in th’ ground 
t' tie th’ pris’ners to,” added another. 

“We’d better just invite th’ squaws t’ 
come over an’ bring their dolls, ’cause they 
wouldn’t come if they knew we wuz goin’ 
to bum ^em,” was the caution of another. 


49 


THE TRAIL OF THE GO-HAWKS 


Let^s all wear war paint, only it^s so hot 
it^l most likely run all over us,’^ said Rain- 
in-the-Face, adding, as usual, a possibility of 
trouble. 

^^Th^ dolls’ll be just like martyrs an’ we 
never played nothin’ like that b’fore,” re- 
marked a small lad who yearned for some- 
thing new. 

A sharp, clear whistle recognized by Piggy 
and holding for him a personal message that 
demanded instant obedience to its bed-time 
summons, scattered the tribe unceremoniously. 

“Jack said we were t’ bring our dolls an’ 
stay all afternoon,” said Patience the following 
morning to Aunt Sallie. “Would you ’vise 
us, auntie, to let ’em wear their party dresses 
’cause they’ve never been to Jack’s house?” 

“ I believe I would, dear, and I am glad that 
Jack told you to bring your dolls; it does 


50 


THE TRAIL OF THE GO-HAWKS 


seem so much nicer to auntie for her little 
girls to play more with their dolls/^ 

^^Our children were pretty good at th’ 
party yesterday/^ said one small mother, 
and turning to the doll lying on the chair 
nearby, she added, Mama^s very proud 
of her precious, an^ will you be good to-day?’’ 

Evidently she read the desired reply in 
the blue eyes that met her own unflinchingly 
in a way that dolls have, for the mother con- 
tinued: ‘^I’m glad you say you will, ’cause 
there may be some other boys there an’ I 
wouldn’t want t’ be ’shamed of you.” 

Prudence and Patience had seemed to 
neglect their dolls of late and so it was with 
much satisfaction that Miss Sallie observed 
that they played contentedly with them all 
the forenoon. The motherly little hearts 
felt no premonition of the tragedy in store 
for them — the crisis approaching in the play 


51 


THE TRAIL OF THE GO-HAWKS 


world peopled by their family of dolls. Even 
though they had been drawn from it by 
their love for their playmate, Jack, who had 
always been their staunch champion, giving 
them rides on his sled in the winter and his 
pony in the summer, winning them admission 
into the charmed tribe of Go-Hawks, still 
the maternal spark in their hearts only 
slumbered. It was born in them as it is in 
every little girl, and sooner or later manifests 
itself in some form or other. 

It did not seem strange to their unsuspect- 
ing hearts that Jack should instruct them 
to bring their dolls. They had not much ex- 
perience with the ways of men. Trustingly, 
they started forth, and unconscious of ap- 
proaching disaster the eyes of the girls were 
as serene as those of their dolls when Jack 
met them at the barn door. 

He conducted them at once into the midst 


52 


THE TRAIL OF THE GO-HAWKS 


of the tribe, assembled in Indian attire. 
Feathers that had been culled by force from 
a long suffering rooster nodded ominously, 
and the bright August sunshine made the 
paint glitter fiercely on the boyish faces, but 
the squaws read not these signs aright. 

A hickory interview with his father that 
very morning in the woodshed had not served 
to heal the wounded spirits of Piggy Runt, 
and his eyes narrowed cruelly when he beheld 
the gaily dressed prisoners. He glanced com- 
placently from them to the great pile of 
brushwood all ready to light. In the center 
was a broom-handle painted red by his own 
restless hands. Dolls ’re too silly ever V 
get t’ Heav’n an’ so I painted that stick red 
’cause devils ’re always red,” he explained 
to Jack a little earlier in the day as he was 
driving into the ground the stick to which 
the victims were to be tied. 


53 


THE TRAIL OF THE GO-HAWKS 


^^You^ll have stand in th^ middle of th’ 
ring, Whispering Leaves an^ Running Water, 
while I bring th’ charges against you,^^ di- 
rected Sitting Bull. The squaws smiled and 
wondered what the new game was, but since 
they had always had a good time with Jack 
they obediently took their places. 

“Squaws of the Go-Hawks, it^s my miser- 
able duty t’ inform you that two of our 
worthy Indians objection to your dolls,^^ be- 
gan Sitting Bull, who determined to go at 
once to the seat of trouble and have a dis- 
agreeable duty well over. “ They say they ^11 
quit th^ tribe unless th^ prisoners are sacri- 
ficed.” 

The squaws looked vaguely troubled. Then 
Running Water spoke slowly, “We, we don^t 
know what sac — sac-recised means,” as though 
unwilling to admit an intimacy with so large 
a word without knowing what it portended. 


54 


THE TRAIL OF THE GO-HAWKS 


means to-day to bum ^em up” he 
answered haltingly. 

^^Bum up Lillie an^ Susanna exclaimed 
Whispering Leaves, in horror at such a thought. 

^'That^s what th’ warriors demand, an- 
swered Sitting Bull, and when he saw the 
anguish in the twins^ eyes he added apolo- 
getically, ^^It^s ^cause they^re men an^ never 
played with dolls, but — ” A generous thought 
came to him. We braves ’ll go up in th’ 
hay-loft an’ leave you relatives ’lone with 
th’ pris’ners t’ take your last looks an’ say 
good-bye.” So great was the chief’s faith 
in the squaws that he never questioned their 
giving up their dolls even as they had their 
curls to meet the demands of the tribe. 

The Go-Hawks walked soberly away and 
the squaws were left alone. They looked at 
each other speechless, their gaze then wander- 
ing to the pile of brushwood ready to light. 


55 


THE TRAIL OF THE GO-HAWKS 


Running Water stole closer to her sister, 
can^t let ^em burn Lillie/^ she whispered. 
'^She^s three years old an’ never said a cross 
word t’ me — I — don’t care ’bout havin’ no 
curls, but I can’t let Lillie be burned.” 

Sitting Bull said we must,” responded 
Whispering Leaves, who possessed sterner 
ideas of duty and was more capable of self- 
sacrifice. Another silence followed while each 
little maid held her beloved close to her 
breast. 

Running Water kissed her child lovingly 
and it seemed to her that Lillie was begging 
for life. It was more than her sensitive 
heart could bear and she threw herself on the 
ground where she lay, with her dolly clasped 
close in her arms, and sobbed as never before 
in her care-free life. 

The sight unnerved the braver-hearted 
Whispering Leaves and she, too, burst into 


56 


THE TRAIL OF THE GO-HAWKS 


tears. '^Darling! Darling she whispered 
incoherently to her dolly. can’t let you 
get all burned up — I thought mebbe I 
could — but I can’t, I can’t,” she wailed. 

It was thus that Sitting Bull found them 
a few minutes later, when he came as an 
emissary from the tribe to ascertain if fare- 
wells had not been spoken and if the burning 
of the martyrs might now proceed. He stood 
embarrassed in the sight of such keen suffer- 
ing, for the girls made no effort to conceal 
their grief. 

Won’t you be willing t’ let us burn 
’em, Uke brave Joan of Arc?” asked Sitting 
Bull slowly. Do |you care so much ’bout 
them?” 

^^How’d you like t’ have your pony all 
burned up,” asked Whispering Leaves, holding 
her doll closer and weeping harder than ever. 

The chief’s kind heart, which usually kept 


57 


THE TRAIL OF THE GO-HAWKS 


him from very deep disgrace with his elders, 
struggled now to be heard. He wanted to 
be loyal to his warriors and yet he could not 
bear to see the squaws weeping. He had 
never mentioned the fact to anyone, but 
somehow it had always given him a sorry 
feeling,” as he would have expressed it, when- 
ever he stopped to think, as he sometimes 
did, that the twins had no mother, and 
though he may have been unconscious of it 
he felt a desire to be good to them. 

He hesitated, and the girls believing that 
the hour of reckoning had come, wept harder 
than ever. ^^It^s a dirty shame,” he mut- 
tered to himself, ^^an^ Piggy can get out of 
th’ old tribe if he wants to, but these dolls 
sha’n’t be burned. Just ’cause he got a lickin’ 
this mornin’ he wants ev’rybody t’ feel bad.” 
Then his face cleared as he made his resolu- 
tion and a flash of fire came into his brown 


THE TRAIL OF THE GO-HAWKS 


eyes, while his voice shook with excitement. 
^^Your dolls sha’n^t be burned. You slip 
over th^ back fence. Run for your lives an' 
take 'em home." 

^^But what'll Piggy an' Rain-in-the-Face 
do t' us?" asked Running Water timidly. 

“They won't say anything t' you an' if 
they do I'll make 'em burn their pets. Now 
hike or it'll be too late," urged Sitting 
Bull who did not want the members of the 
tribe to see the squaws' red and swollen 
eyes. 

They needed no second urging and fairly 
flew over the ground, disappearing from view 
just as the Go-Hawks, led by the impatient 
Piggy, crowded round the barn. There stood 
the chief alone as the girls had left him; his 
face was grave and fearless. 

“Where are th' squaws? and I choose t' 
tie th' pris'ners t' th' stake," shouted Piggy. 


59 


THE TRAIL OF THE GO-HAWKS 


^^An^ I choose light th^ match/^ chimed 
in Rain-in-the-Face, only it^s so kind a-windy 
mebbe it^ll go out.” 

Th’ squaws ’ ve gone home an’ so ’ ve th’ 
prisoners. I sent ’em all home,” announced 
Sitting Bull. 

‘‘You did^ did you, old softy?” shouted 
Piggy, wrathfully shaking his little fist. 

“Yes, I did,” replied Sitting Bull, “an’ if 
you want t’ fight. Piggy Runt, come on ! I’m 
ready! An’ if you want to fight, Rain-in- 
the-Face, come on, but you sha’n’t bum 
those dolls; an’ if either of you say one mean 
thing t’ th’ squaws you’ve got t’ bring your 
rabbit an’ dog an’ we’ll just tie ’em to that 
stake an’ burn ’em up an’ see how it makes 
you feel. Now if you want t’ fight come on!” 

Piggy and Rain-in-the-Face looked doubt- 
ful about accepting the proposition. The 
chief glanced scornfully at them and said. 


60 


THE TRAIL OF THE GO-HAWKS 


Fve had 'nough of this business an’ I don’t 
care what you think o’ me. If you kids 
don’t want me for your chief you can get 
’nother. You can stay here if you want to, 
but I’m goin’ in th’ house.” 

The tear-stained faces of the squaws were 
too strongly outlined before their chief for 
him to enjoy playing any more with the 
members of his tribe that afternoon. He 
felt on strained relations, but he was not 
unhappy as he turned and walked off 
without another word to the astounded Go- 
Hawks. 

^^Well, by gum! Wouldn’t that get you? 
I call him an old pot of mush,” angrily de- 
clared Piggy. Mushy! Mushy!” he called 
after the chief. 

Goin’ in t’ play with his own dolly or sit 
on his mama’s knee I s’pose,” sneered Rain- 
in-the-Face. 


61 


THE TRAIL OF THE GO-HAWKS 


^^He^s Traid stay an^ fight us kids/’ said 
who began to feel very brave as the 
chief disappeared from view. 

We’ll smash his face if he comes ’bout us, 
won’t we?” asked Rain-in-the-Face. 

^'Yer bet yer life! I’m goin’ t’ lick him 
’cause he got chicken-hearted an’ spoiled 
ev’rything. Come on, kids, let’s get out o’ 
this an’ go down t’ th’ river.” 

For want of something better the sugges- 
tion was adopted, and the scene of the pro- 
posed execution was soon deserted by the 
bloodthirsty tribe of Go-Hawks. 



62 



After Jack^s command to hurry home as 
fast as they could the twins did not stop run- 
ning until they had reached their own room, 
from which they had gone forth but a short 
time before serene and happy, at peace with 
the world. They now returned with hearts 
tom with anguish, yet full of thanks- 
giving. 

^‘Prudence, I thought the Lorded forsaken 
us,^' said Patience soberly to her sister. 
^‘Mothers must feel awful bad to get berefted 


63 


THE TRAIL OF THE GO-HAWKS 


of their children. Did you hear poor Lillie 
cryin’?’^ 

'^Well, you know I wasn^t watchin^ Lillie 
’cause Susanna said to me if I let her get 
burned up she’d tell God when she got t’ 
Heaven never t’ let me come,” answered the 
child whose imagination never seemed to fail 
her at critical moments. 

^^Did she say that?” asked Patience in an 
awed voice. She never doubted the truth 
of her sister’s statements and herself was not 
far behind her in creative ability. did 
not ’courage my ’dieted child to talk. She 
cried so hard she couldn’t talk. She just 
shook with sobs,” Patience concluded. 

We’ll never dare take ’em any place 
’gain,” said Prudence, ^^an’ children do need 
fresh air. Sometimes I think we’d better 
send ’em off t’ school an’ then nothin’ can 
ever happen. I heard Mrs. Thompson tell 


64 


THE TRAIL OF THE GO-HAWKS 


auntie she never had t’ worry ^bout her chil- 
dren since she sent ^em Vay t^ school/^ 
^‘But our children are so young an^ hardly 
strong ’nough t’ study. Fm Traid Lillie^s 
goin^ F have nervoustration now. See how 
pale she is.^’ 

“She is pale, but I hope you^ll be able t^ 
raise her. If she should die, we can have a 
splendid funeral. Jack can ride his pony at 
th^ head of the procession an’ you an’ I can 
ride in th’ express wagon an’ Lillie — ” 

“Oh, please. Miss Trevellyn, do not talk 
’bout dear Lillie havin’ a fun’ral ’cause I 
think she’s gettin’ better an’ it makes me 
feel bad.” The over-wrought nerves of the 
child gave way and she burst into tears. 

“Don’t cry,” said Prudence penitently, “I 
never meant t’ make you cry an’ I’m sure 
Lillie’s lookin’ better now.” She picked up 
the doll and examined it carefully. “ Just see. 


65 


THE TRAIL OF THE GO-HAWKS 


her cheeks are gettin^ red just like she was 
very healthy/’ She yearned to comfort her 
sister whom she never intentionally grieved. 
She searched her brain quickly for inspiration. 
^^Oh, Pat, Lillie looks t’ me just like a girl 
who’s goin’ t’ get married. Wouldn’t it be 
perfec’ly stylish t’ have her get married?” 
she asked coaxingly. ^^Jack can be th’ 
minister an’ we can all throw old shoes full of 
rice an’ Susanna can be a bridesmaid an’ you 
can sit in th’ front seat like Mrs. Thompson 
did an’ weep. An’ we’ll have a weddin’ cake 
an’ presents an’, oh — that’ll be lots splendider 
than a fun’ral. Oh! Oh! Can’t you see your 
darling?” she chattered on, hoping to dry 
the tears and catching the fire of enthusiasm 
from her own words. We’ll dress her in 
sky-blue with a long train an’ she can walk 
down th’ aisle on her gray-haired father’s 
arm an’ Donald can play his mouth harp 


66 


THE TRAIL OF THE GO-HAWKS 


— an^ — ” The word Donald^’ was fatal to 
happiness at that moment. 

^‘He sha^n’t play it, ’cause he wanted to 
bum up our daughters,” and the child 
stamped her foot resentfully. 

The loud tones and noise brought Miss 
Sallie and the professor into the room, the 
latter having just come home to dinner. 

''What is the matter with my little girls?” 
asked the father, as he glanced from the 
flushed, excited face of one daughter to the 
angry, grieved one of the other. The eyes 
of Patience were full of tears while those of 
her sister were still red as though she, too, 
had wept but a short time before. 

The heart of Patience had been sorely 
tried, by the ordeal through which she had 
passed. She had suffered, no doubt, as keenly 
as though she were many years older, the 
doll human and in very grave danger. 


67 


THE TRAIL OF THE GO-HAWKS 


Prudence likewise had grieved, but in this, 
as in everything else, seemed more quickly 
to throw off nervous excitement. 

As Miss Sallie glanced from one tense little 
face to the other her own grew grave; she 
surmised instantly that this was no childish 
quarrel, and that the seat of the trouble lay 
deeper. She put her arms tenderly around 
Prudence who was more calm than her sister. 
^^What is the trouble, dearie? Won^t you 
tell father and auntie what has made you 
and Patience so unhappy?’’ 

The child looked at her longingly, then 
replied slowly, ^'I’d like to tell, auntie, an’ 
get it out of my insides, but mebbe it wouldn’t 
be fair.” 

Miss Sallie glanced significantly at her 
brother as much as to say, ^^We can almost 
guess where the trouble lies.” 

It is only that we want to help you, dears. 


68 


THE TRAIL OF THE GO-HAWKS 


that we ask, and because it grieves us to find 
you in trouble/’ 

At these words the heart of Patience could 
no longer bear its burden alone and she 
threw her arms impulsively around her 
father’s neck. don’t care if it isn’t fair, 
I’m goin’ t’ tell. They wanted t’ bum up 
Lillie an’ Susanna, an’ we weren’t babies t’ 
cry, were we? Wouldn’t you cry, too, if your 
children were t’ be tied t’ a stick an’ burned 
up? An’ th’ stick was red an’ it was an’ 
awful sight.” 

Prudence never could bear to remain long 
in the background and now that the ice was 
broken added eagerly, ^^An’ we were so 
frightened an’ Susanna cried, ^Save me, 
mama!’ An’ Pat said that Lillie’s body 
just shook with sobs an’ then we cried ’cause 
we love our children an’ then Jack felt bad 
an’ told us t’ hike an’ Pat can’t seem t’ stop 
cryin’.” 


69 


THE TRAIL OF THE GO-HAWKS 


^^An’, father/^ chimed in Patience, 
never part from Lillie another minute — ^an^ 
my head aches so — an’ please, father, I don’t 
want t’ go down t’ dinner, an’ I’d like t’ 
sit all comfy here on your knee all night.” 

At these words Miss Sallie withdrew, taking 
Prudence with her. She determined to re- 
turn later with the other child’s dinner 
and tuck her into bed for the night, trusting 
to Nature to give her the rest she needed. 

The father drew the trembling little figure 
close in his arms, rocking her gently back 
and forth until the sobs gradually ceased. 

Father is very, very sorry for you, dar- 
ling,” he whispered; 

'‘You’d have cried, wouldn’t you, if they’d 
wanted to bum me all up like that Ark 
girl?” 

"Cried! It would have broken my heart, 
little one, and father does not wonder you 


70 


THE TRAIL OF THE GO-HAWKS 


cried, but Lillie is safe here in our arms and 
we will try to forget her danger, dear/^ 

'^It wasn^t Jack — it was those other boys — 
Jack saved her life.” 

“I wouldn’t play with the boys, if they 
make you feel so bad,” said the father. ‘^1 
fear they are too rough for my little girls.” 

Oh — but — father, they shiver you so. 
Sometimes when we play war you shiver up 
and down your back. I just ache, some- 
times. Did you ever ache, just ’cause you’re 
having such a good time you couldn’t hold 
it all? It’s grand, father.” 

Professor Trevellyn looked at the child 
thoughtfully and then said: “Father knows 
one thing and that is that he loves his daugh- 
ters better than anything else in the world 
and one of them is very, very tired and had 
better be tucked into bed. I will call auntie 
to bring a little something to eat, and then 


71 


THE TRAIL OF THE GO-HAWKS 


she will help you and Lillie to undress. 
Remember, you are father^s brave girl. Here 
comes auntie now. Auntie, here is a tired 
little girl and I am sure she will enjoy what 
you have brought her on the tray. My! 
My! those blue dishes look like a party. 

Miss Sallie gently coaxed the child to eat 
and then, as she made ready for bed the 
slender figure, she thought tenderly of another 
Patience with whom she used to romp years 
before, and to whom also everything in their 
httle play world was intensely real. The 
sweet memories of other days made her 
place her hand if possible more lovingly than 
usual on the head of Patience as she knelt 
by her side to repeat the childish prayer. 

Auntie, would you care if I didn’t say 
‘Now I lay me’ to-night, but made up my 
own prayer?” 

“You may say whatever you wish, dear.” 


72 


THE TRAIL OF THE GO-HAWKS 


The child hesitated and then began halt- 
ingly : Dear God — my father says you 
watch over everything, but I think you 
mustVe fallen ^sleep this afternoon an^ did 
not see poor Lillie an’ Susanna who prit’ 
near got burned up like that Ark girl in 
Jack’s reader. Please do not go t’ sleep 
any more in th’ day time. Pinch yourself 
to keep awake an’ make all those boys feel 
sorry for our pains an’ make us good girls. 
Do not forget t’ stay awake. This is all for 
to-night. Amen!” 

Neither Miss Sallie nor Patience heard a 
slight noise in the hall. The child fell asleep 
almost as soon as her head touched the pillow 
and then Miss Sallie went to search for the 
other little maid to bring her to bed. She 
was somewhat surprised when Prudence also 
requested that she, too, might be permitted 
to change her prayers to suit the needs of the 


73 


THE TRAIL OF THE GO-HAWKS 


hour. She did not know that the little one 
had overheard her sister^s prayer and that 
her imagination had been actively at work 
ever since. 

Aunt Sallie assented with a smile. ^^Dear 
God in Heaven, I think by this time you 
have digested my sister^s prayer. You^re 
not what folks think you are. I think you 
must be like Jack’s father with just one boy 
in the family. You should have been a 
mother an’ had girls an’ then you’d have 
watched over our daughters better an’ not 
let ’em get ’flicted. It’s your duty t’ punish 
those wicked boys, who ’most broke our 
hearts. S’pose you turn Donald’s hair red 
an’ never let it stop growin’, an’ you’d better 
make it curl an’ make Piggy stay little al- 
ways, an’ make him shrink some like our flan- 
nel petticoats did. Please do these things. 
Amen!” 


74 


THE TRAIL OF THE GO-HAWKS 


Miss Sallie felt grateful that it was almost 
dark in the room and that her face was in the 
shadow when the child opened her bright 
eyes and kissed her good-night. 



75 


Napoleon^s Temptation. 


The Go-Hawks had held no regular session 
since that eventful afternoon when they 
attempted to bum the dolls at the stake. 
While not formally discussing the affair, each 
felt in his heart that it had not been a success. 

Donald did not forget his promise to Piggy 
of two fried cakes in return for the secret en- 
trusted to him. In his boy’s code of ethics 
he regarded this promise as a debt of honor, 
so the first day that he found a crock of 
doughnuts on the pantry shelf he helped 
himself to two of the largest for Piggy, whom 


76 


THE TRAIL OF THE GO-HAWKS 


he sallied forth to find. The home of the 
latter was nearby and he carried the cakes 
in his grimy hands. Donald was not over- 
joyed while on the way to Piggy’s to run 
across Jack. 

Where you goin’ and what you goin’ to 
do with those fried cakes?” pleasantly asked 
Jack, who was ever ready to bury the hatchet. 

promised ’em to Piggy for tollin’ me 
somethin’ I wanted t’ know.” 

'^Say, Don, tell Piggy for me that I think 
he’d better give those cakes to Pat and Prue. 
I’ll be down in a minute.” 

Donald dutifully delivered the message to 
Piggy, who, having just finished his dinner, 
was not as hungry as usual. Nevertheless 
he eyed the cakes greedily as he hung them on 
a nail in the barn. Though he had not deter- 
mined to sacrifice them to the twins, at least 
he would postpone eating them for a while. 


77 


THE TRAIL OF THE GO-HAWKS 


When shortly after, Jack came whistling 
into the barn, the cakes were the first things 
that caught his eye. Slapping Piggy jovially 
on the back he said, ^^You^re an old brick. 
I knew you^d do the square thing by the 
squaws.” 

ain^t said I would yet,” replied Piggy, 
know, but you haven’t eaten them. 
I think we ought to square ourselves with 
the girls, don’t you, Donald?” appealed Jack 
anxiously. 

'^They oughtn’t t’ be such cry babies 
’bout their old dolls, but I don’t s’pose Aunt 
Sallie ’ll ever give us any more cookies if we 
don’t make up, so I s’pose we’d better.” 

^^’Tisn’t that,” answered Jack thought- 
fully, ^‘only they always play everything 
we want, an’ Pat feeds my pony sugar an’ 
I saw her get a piece of meat out of th’ ice- 
box for your dog so I think we ought t’ be 


78 


THE TRAIL OF THE GO-HAWKS 


respectable t’ their dolls. They like their 
dolls just as well as we like our pets, an^ 
theyVe never tried to hurt anything of 
ours.^^ 

“What’d you have us do? Put on dresses 
and cart round dolls I s^pose,” remarked 
Piggy sarcastically. 

Jack^s eyes flashed. ^^You know bettePn 
that, but I want you to show ^em we^re sorry 
^cause all th^ other fellows are sorry — but 
you, mebbe.’^ 

Piggy began to weaken, not wanting to be 
in ill-favor with the Go-Hawks, who were 
responsible for so many of his good times. 
'‘What d^ou want us to do?^’ he asked, 
not very pleasantly, it must be confessed, 
but it was a concession that he asked at 
all. 

“ I think we’d better ask Aunt Sallie if we 
can’t come over an’ spend th’ afternoon an’ 


79 


THE TRAIL OF THE GO-HAWKS 


have th’ girls bring out their dolls and we^l 
play anythin’ they want. They’ll always be 
’fraid o’ us till we show ’em we won’t hurt 
their dolls.” 

“Yes, but mebbe they won’t play with us,” 
suggested Donald. 

“ We’ll think up such a good game that they 
can’t help it.” 

“ I thought you just said you were goin’ t’ 
let ’em choose th’ game,” interrupted Piggy. 

“That’d be better an’ I’ll see ’bout it to- 
morrow. Don’t forget ’bout the fried cakes. 
It’s nice of you. Piggy, ’cause I know you 
love ’em,” concluded Jack as he rose to go, 
anxious to find the other Go-Hawks and put 
his plan in operation. 

The lads looked curiously after his retreat- 
ing figure. “ I never saw such a looney,” re- 
marked Piggy, who was struggling inwardly 
with the question of the cakes. 


80 


THE TRAIL OF THE GO-HAWKS 


^^Yep, but rm a-goin^ to stick by him, 
’cause you’ve an awful good time Tore you’re 
through. I got t’ go home, too,” replied 
Donald and off he started leaving Piggy alone 
in the barn. 

Piggy looked cautiously around to make 
sure he was alone, then stole over to the 
cakes. He decided to smell them. Then 
he concluded to take a bite off one, to see 
how good it might be. That bite was almost 
the undoing of Piggy’s sacrifice. It seemed 
to him that he had never tasted anything 
quite so good and he nibbled just a little more. 
'‘Darn th’ luck! It’s them wimmen folks 
makin’ more trouble for us men.” He yearned 
as never for anything before to eat those 
cakes, yet so strong was the chief’s hold over 
his warriors that Piggy wished to please him 
although not approving the method adopted. 

" But how ’ll I ever get th’ old things to 


81 


THE TRAIL OF THE GO-HAWKS 


’em?” he questioned in his disappointment, 
thus referring to the cakes that were freshly 
made that day. He then recognized Na- 
poleon’s whistle in the street and called the 
little colored boy into the barn. “Do you 
see those cakes?” he demanded. “Well, I’m 
goin’ to send you with ’em to th’ squaws.” 

Napoleon’s eyes looked hungrily at the 
cakes. “One’s got a piece out of it,” he 
murmured. 

“You can take a bite to match it out of th’ 
other for takin’ ’em up. Ring th’ bell an’ 
give ’em to Aunt Sallie an’ tell her who they’re 
for. Don’t talk any more’n you can help 
an’ don’t get th’ cakes any dirtier’n you 
can help,” instructed Piggy. 

Napoleon took the cakes in his hands and 
obediently started off. It was a trying or- 
deal to him, for he was seldom so near to 
cakes as he was at that moment. His mother 


82 



For greater safety Napoleon stole behind a tree 












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THE TRAIL OF THE GO-HAWKS 


had been away washing all day and he had 
eaten nothing since morning more appe- 
tizing than cold potatoes. As he neared the 
Trevellyn home his heart grew heavy and he 
began to walk more slowly. He knew it to 
be a fact that whole jars of cookies were made 
at that house every week. 

^^It’s wuth two bites to bring those cakes 
up here, so ^tis,’^ he said to himself. No 
one was in sight, but for greater safety 
Napoleon stole behind a tree. He took 
one bite and a heavenly smile of satisfaction 
crossed his dark little face. ^^Twould look 
all right if there’s a bite just like that out of 
th’ other one,” he mused. He measured 
that bite with exactness, then holding the 
remnants carefully he ran whistling across 
the Trevellyn lawn to the front door. 

Miss Sallie responded. ^^Good morning, 
Napoleon,” she greeted him pleasantly. 


§3 


THE TRAIL OF THE GO-HAWKS 


^'How — do — I — Fve brung your kids, our 
squaws, some cakes, here they be.” With 
these words he offered them. 

Cakes for our little girls? And are they 
from yourself?” 

^'No — Piggy, he sent ’em. I guess he’s 
kind a-sorry he wanted to burn up their dolls, 
so he didn’t eat th’ cakes hisself but he sent 
’em. They are nice cakes.” Napoleon Bona- 
parte knew whereof he spoke. It seemed 
wonderful to his cake-yearning soul that 
Piggy could bring himself to part with them. 
He looked at them wistfully. ‘^1 tried not 
to get ’em any dirtier’n I could help.” Then, 
as though he could no longer bear the 
tempting sight, he turned abruptly away. 
'^Got t’ hike,” he said over his shoulder. 

Napoleon ! Napoleon ! Do not hurry ; just 
come back for a few minutes, dear,” called 
Aunt Sallie. 


84 


THE TRAIL OF THE GO-HAWKS 


The ragged urchin turned obediently. His 
little life had not been all play with the Go- 
Hawks and he had learned obedience. How- 
ever, his face was happy as he slowly turned. 
Try as he might his eyes wandered from Miss 
Sallie to the cakes. 

She saw the wistfulness in the boy^s eyes, 
and the bites taken out of the cakes were full 
of meaning to her. She felt that the child 
must be really hungry and that it had been 
a trying ordeal to him to execute the com- 
mission. There’s no one else at home and 
I want you to come into the library and talk 
a while.” 

He followed her shyly and sat down on"" the 
extreme edge of a low chair, while Miss Sallie 
took a seat nearby. With a thoughtfulness 
born of experience with the twins, she con- 
siderately left the cakes in the hall. 

did not want you to leave, Napoleon, 


85 


THE TRAIL OF THE GO-HAWKS 


without first telling you how pleased I am 
to know that you and Piggy are so kind to 
my little girls. It was generous of Piggy to 
send his cakes and very kind of you to bring 
them. They seem to be very nice.^^ 

Napoleon was becoming excited, for it was 
seldom that he received so many kind words 
all at once. The sensation fairly intoxi- 
cated him. ^^Yep, those cakes are awful 
good, but I guess th^ cook didn^t have ’nough 
dough t^ make ’em th’ same.” The bites 
he had taken were beginning to trouble 
him. 

Yes, a cook very often runs out of ^ dough,’ 
as you call it,” replied Aunt Sallie. ‘^I only 
want to tell you how nice I think it is of you 
to have brought them so carefully. It must 
be a great comfort to your mother to have 
such a son.” 

The boy’s face was radiant for a moment 


86 


THE TRAIL OF THE GO-HAWKS 


and then clouded as he answered slowly, 
^^Yes, but she licks me sometimes.” 

Miss Sallie ignored the admission and con- 
tinued, want you to do something for 
me, will you, Napoleon?” 

He nodded his woolly head from which 
he had forgotten to remove the ragged cap. 

^^Here are two oranges. Eat one yourself 
and take the other with my thanks to Piggy.” 
She took two large oranges from a plate on 
the table and escorted her small guest to the 
door. Don’t forget to thank Piggy, and I 
thank you myself.” 

The little fellow turned a handspring or 
two for joy as he ran down the street. It’s 
jes’ like I wuz white,” he muttered to himself. 


87 



The Wedding. 


The Go-Hawks to a man repented of their 
attempted execution of Lillie and Susanna 
and were now as enthusiastic in their desire 
for reparation as they had been interested in 
making ready for the tragedy. Even Piggy 
felt magnanimous; the orange sent in return 
for his generous gift of cakes had softened 
his heart. 

For an entire week the twins had not 
played with the Go-Hawks. The boys had 
begun to miss the willing hands and feet de- 


ss 


THE TRAIL OF THE GO-HAWKS 


voted to their service. The admiring awe 
with which the squaws followed their every 
movement had been very pleasing to their 
youthful self-importance. Ever since the 
night of their admission into the tribe they 
had been appreciative spectators of all the 
Indian antics. 

Seems most like somebody’s dead with- 
out th’ squaws an’ I movement we square 
up th’ hull business,” remarked Spotted Wolf 
one evening to his fellow Go-Hawks. 

''Huh! I’m willin’ to do anythin’,” said 
another. 

"So’m I—” 

"Here, too, Pete,” chimed in a third voice. 

"They’re afraid of us now,” said Jack 
ruefully, "an’ Aunt Sallie said to-day they 
never can play with us ’less we show ’em we 
won’t hurt their dolls nor anythin’ else that 
is theirs.” 


89 


THE TRAIL OF THE GO-HAWKS 


'^How^d we know what’s a-comin’ that we 
might have to hurt?” asked Donald. 

‘^How’d you know you won’t get a lickin’ 
to-morrow? You don’t keep a-thinkin’ ’bout 
it all th’ time, do you?” retorted Jack. 

I like Aunt Sallie,” announced Napoleon, 
whose heart and palate cherished sweet 
memories, ^^an’ I think we orter make it 
up.” 

Are you willin’ to do anythin’ they want? ” 
asked the chief a little doubtfully. 

^‘Yep!” they sang in chorus. 

^'Well,” said Jack slowly, told Prue 
that we’d play anything they wanted for one 
afternoon, an’ we’d treat their dolls like 
ladies.” 

^^What’d she say?” an eager voice inter- 
rupted. 

^^She said she thought it’d be grand t’ 
have a weddin’ an^ all us in it.” 


90 


THE TRAIL OF THE GO-HAWKS 


'^A weddinM well, wouldn’t that make you 
want t’ go t’ Sunday school?” ejaculated one 
little chap. 

'‘Yes, an’ Aunt Sallie said she wasn’t sure 
we’d behave so she’d rather have it over 
there an’ I guess she’s goin’ to have refresh- 
ments,” continued Jack. 

"Oh! Mebbe it’ll be a cake with candles 
on it,” interrupted Napoleon with shining 
eyes. 

" What yer givin’ us? Candles is for birth- 
day cakes. Guess you ain’t never been to no 
swell weddin’s,” interrupted Piggy with su- 
periority. 

Poor Napoleon could not deny the charge, 
so he sat down abashed. He was none the 
less hopeful, however, about the cake. 

"When’ll we know what we’ve got to do? 
I don’t like a lot o’ things a-jumpin’ on me 
t’ do at th’ last second,” said Donald. 


91 


THE TRAIL OF THE GO-HAWKS 


goin’ over there now talk it over 
an^ you kids can wait here till I come back, 
or ril see you to-morrow, answered Jack 
as he started away. A little later he was 
seated with Prudence on the Trevellyn lawn. 
Patience had gone shopping with Miss Sallie. 

^'The fellows ’re are all awful sorry ’bout 
th’ doll bus’ness,an’ we want t’ square it an’ 
show you we wouldn’t harm a hair of their 
heads,” began Jack. 

Will they play weddin’?” anxiously asked 
Prudence. 

^‘Yes, an’ we’ll do ev’rything you want.” 

Prudence could scarcely believe that she 
heard aright — that the fourteen warriors were 
at their command and they but squaws. 
“Oh, Jack!” she gasped, “oh! how perfec’ly 
stylish! let’s plan a weddin’. You know 
Lillie’s got t’ be th’ bride. She’s Pat’s 
child.” 


92 


THE TRAIL OF THE GO-HAWKS 


^'Wouldn’t you rather have your child th^ 
bride? asked the boy. 

^^Well, I would/^ she answered truthfully, 
^'but you see I made Patience feel bad by 
plannin^ a funeral for Lillie, so then I had t^ 
plan her gettin’ married. So I s^pose she’d 
better be th’ bride. And anyway Susanna’s 
feelin’s ’ll not be hurt ’cause I asked her if 
she’d care an’ she said she’d hate t’ leave 
home.” 

Jack’s grave face did not smile. He was 
very much in earnest in his desire to make 
amends, and he entered heartily into the 
spirit of the wedding. don’t wonder that 
you didn’t want her t’ be burned,” he said. 

'‘She’s always been good an’ perlite an’ 
never said a cross word t’ me since her father 
died. I’m a widow, you know,” she con- 
cluded, giving rein as usual, to her fancy. 

"I didn’t know that,” answered Jack. 


93 


THE TRAIL OF THE GO-HAWKS 


^^Oh, yes, Susanna’s father died six years 
before she was born. He was left out in th’ 
rain an’ soaked t’ death an’ he’s buried in th’ 
attic. Auntie says I’m young t’ be a widow, 
but, oh, it’s th’ grandest fun. Why don’t 
you play it sometimes. Jack? Have you 
any children?” 

^‘No, but I have a pony. He’s just as 
good as a child,” was the response. 

Patience has a husband. He was given 
t’ her th’ Christmas after Lillie was born. 
So you see, if Lillie’s th’ bride, she can walk 
down th’ aisle on her gray-haired father’s 
arm, like that weddin’ I went to, only his hair 
is yellow.” 

^^But dolls don’t walk,” objected Jack. 

The child puckered her brows thoughtfully. 
''I tell you. Let’s have th’ weddin’ out- 
doors right here,” she added excitedly run- 
ning over to a large oak tree. ^^I can see it 


94 


THE TRAIL OF THE GO-HAWKS 


all, Jack. I went a weddin’ with Aunt 
Sallie last winter an’ so I can play it grand. 
We’ll put our seats over here an’ all th’ other 
dolls who aren’t anything can sit there.” 

'^What’ll I be?” 

'^Oh, you must be th’ minister. Patience 
an’ I can sit on th’ front seat an’ cry an’ cry 
like Mrs. Thompson did. Lillie an’ her 
father can ride up th’ aisle in th’ old express 
wagon an’ it’ll be drawn by an inky black 
steed, that’s Napoleon, you know. He can 
be hitched up an’ have a plume in his hair 
like th’ horses wore at that big fun’ral. I 
thought that looked perfec’ly stylish.” 

^^How you plan things,” interrupted Jack. 

'^Yes, an’ that isn’t half,” she answered 
complacently. “We’ll want t’ have a band. 
They can sit up in th’ cherry tree so’s th’ 
music can float. Donald can play his mouth 
harp an’ Ginger can pound his drum an’ 


95 


THE TRAIL OF THE GO-HAWKS 


Squint must bring his horn. They can play 
some hymns and coon songs. Won^t it be 
grand? The child^s eyes fairly danced. 

'^How’ll you get th^ groom there? asked 
the chief. 

^^We haven’t got a groom yet, but I guess 
we can get one by Saturday an’ my auntie 
can dress him. I guess he’d better ride with 
Lillie an’ her father.” 

^^What ’ll Piggy do?” 

Piggy can ring the sleigh-bells when we 
come out o’ church.” 

^^It isn’t winter,” objected Jack. 

^^Well, I know it, but this is th’ ’Piscopal 
church an’ bells must ring an’ th’ carriages 
come an’ th’ band ’ll play an’ then we’ll have 
refreshments. An’ let’s have invitations. 
Will you write ’em to-night?” 

‘‘Yes. Let’s write one now so I’ll know 
how an’ what to say,” he answered, and as 


96 



‘‘I’ll write what jou want.” 








THE TRAIL OF THE GO-HAWKS 


the children's heads were bent over a sheet 
of paper he continued, write what you 
want.” 

They labored earnestly and when the in- 
vitation was concluded it read: '^Miss Pa- 
tience Trevellyn invites you to come and see 
her oldest dawter get married on Satterday 
afternoon at two o^ clock. Her weading will 
be under a tree and if you can bring a preasant 
leave it under the haw tree. If it rains we 
will have Lillie get married next Satterday.” 
Jack^s prudent forethought had suggested 
the last sentence. 

^^It^ll be perfectly stylish V have invita- 
tions an^ I think we^ll have the nicest time we 
ever did an^ oh, I could talk ^bout it all 
night,” said Prudence breathlessly. 

^^I must go back V th^ tribe an^ tell ^em 
what there^s t^ do,” answered Jack rising. 

^‘An^ Fll go in an’ talk F Lillie ’cause she 


97 


THE TRAIL OF THE GO-HAWKS 


don’t know yet that she’s goin’ t’ be married. 
Good-bye.” 

^^So-long,” called Jack as he disappeared 
from view. 

When Miss Sallie and Patience returned 
they found Prudence in the children’s room 
with all the dolls she could muster ’round her. 

“Oh, auntie an’ Pat!” she exclaimed. 
“Jack’s been here an’ Lillie’s goin’ t’ get 
married Saturday — an’ they’re all cornin’ here 
t’ play it — an’ Pat, you’n I are t’ sit on th’ 
front seat’n cry — an’ auntie, won’t you dress 
a husband for us?” 

“ Have you told Lillie yet? ” asked Patience 
with motherly solicitude. 

“Yes, an’ she said she’d like a husband an’ 
so auntie, you’ll dress one, won’t you? ’cause 
o’ course Lillie can’t get married ’thout a 
husband.” 

Auntie smilingly assented and during the 


98 


THE TRAIL OF THE GO-HAWKS 


next few days entered with enthusiasm into 
the plans. Appreciating the fact that the 
boys regretted the heartache they had caused, 
she determined to make the afternoon a 
happy one to all. 

Lillie^s wedding day dawned clear and 
bright. The twins worked like beavers all 
the morning getting things in readiness. Miss 
Sallie decided to interfere as little as possible 
and to permit the children’s fancy to take 
its own course. She busied herself with the 
refreshments, having before her eyes the 
hungry face of Napoleon as she had last seen 
it. She desired that he, of all the children, 
should for once have his hunger satisfied. 

Prudence was in her element and her little 
figure often flitted in and out of the house. 
When Jack suggested the need of ribbons to 
form an aisle for the bridal party she took 
all her own and her sister’s hair ribbons, 


99 


THE TRAIL OF THE GO-HAWKS 


old and new, and knotted them together. 

To the sorrow of the neighborhood the 
band practiced the entire morning. No two 
of its members were familiar with the same 
tune, but the squaws were well satisfied. 
At last every arrangement was completed, 
the dolls dressed, the guests assembled and 
the happy hour had arrived. 

With one accord the braves concluded to 
attend in war-paint and feathers, as a sur- 
prise to the squaws and because they en- 
joyed dressing in Indian attire. Napoleon, 
who had received a smile from Aunt Sallie 
as he entered the yard, instantly and cheer- 
fully consented to be the inky black steed,’’ 
harnessed to the express wagon. 

Patience and Prudence, who had felt it 
proper to follow Mrs. Thompson’s example 
at her daughter’s wedding and sit on the 
front seat and weep, almost forgot to do so, 


100 


THE TRAIL OF THE GO-HAWKS 


for most inspiring was the music and ab- 
sorbing the ceremony. 

As the minister, Jack did his duty wonder- 
fully, fearfully. His improvised service an- 
swered every purpose. At its conclusion 
came the wild clanging of Piggy Runt^s sleigh- 
bells, while the band played lustily. The 
^^inky black steed took the wedding party 
down the aisle with such spirit and dash that 
it brought whoops of delight from the as- 
sembled braves. Squint was so happy that 
peace had again overtaken the tribe that he 
stood on his head again and again and, for 
very joy, knocked Irish down. At this 
affront the blood of the latter’s ancestors rose 
and a fight might have resulted, had not Aunt 
Sallie opportunely appeared bearing a great 
tray of cake. Lemonade and fruit followed. 

‘^She says we kin hev all we want,” an- 
nounced Piggy. 


101 


THE TRAIL OF THE GO-HAWKS 


Napoleon overheard these comforting words 
and taking his cake stole behind the barn, 
for he wished to be alone in the extremity of 
his happiness. He sat down on the soft 
grass and gave his attention solely to the busi- 
ness in hand. “Kin hev all we want,’^ he 
whispered rapturously over and over again. 
He heard Miss Sallie going into the house and 
followed her. “Kin I hev some more of 
everythin’?^’ he begged shyly. 

“Oh, it is you, is it, Napoleon?” she asked 
as she cut an extra large piece of cake. 

“Yes’m, it’s me,” he answered as he hast- 
ened out of the door. A little later he re- 
turned. “Kin I hev some more of every- 
thin’, Aunt Sallie?” he inquired. 

As she filled his hands full to overflowing 
it seemed to her she had never seen a face so 
radiant with happiness. She thought of it 
again and again that evening, after the last 


102 


THE TRAIL OF THE GO-HAWKS 


child had scampered home and the lawn and 
house were beginning to assume their usual 
aspect. 

''Did you have a happy afternoon? she 
asked the twins. "And how are the bride 
and groom?’’ 

"They’re pretty well, thank you,” an- 
swered Patience, "an’ Prudence said that 
Lillie’s husband’s a hard-workin’ man for he 
told her he worked in the cemetery an’ had 
t’ get up early an’ dig all th’ graves.” 

"Yes, auntie,” quoth Prudence earnestly, 
"everythin’ was perfec’ly stylish.” In the 
child’s estimation she could give no higher 
praise than this. 

Thus as the sun sank behind the hills, 
peace descended upon the tribe of Go-Hawks, 
and the blood-thirsty braves and their timid 
squaws were again united. 


103 


CHAPTER VII. 



A Circus. 


For more than a week excitement had 
run high in the neighborhood of the Carroll 
home. The Go-Hawks were to give a circus, 
and day or night it was the absorbing topic 
of conversation. The barn was headquarters 
for the troupe, and the lot at the rear was 
converted into a circus ground. Practicing 
on the home-made trapeze, with ancient bed 
quilts and comforters to soften the numerous 
falls, was the program for every afternoon. 
The twins had won much admiration for the 


104 


THE TRAIL OF THE GO-HAWKS 


manner in which they walked the tight rope — 
a performance it was well for them that 
Aunt Sallie did not see. However, tight 
rope walking did not wholly satisfy the am- 
bition of Prudence. 

Isn’t there something else that we can do, 
Jack?” she asked one evening. 

'^How’d you like to be a side show, you 
and Pat? You might be th’ fat lady with 
somethin’ dreadful th’ matter with you, or a 
giantess an’ stand on a box in th’ tent.” 

Prudence regarded the suggestions doubt- 
fully. It was too inactive to please the rest- 
less child. ^^May we be anything we can 
think up t’ s’ prise th’ boys?” she asked. 

^^Sure thing,” answered the chief, ^^but 
get up somethin’ lively an’ different from 
anythin’ else, ’cause you two’ll be th’ only 
lady actors in this show.” 

What’d you rather be than anythin’ else in 


105 


THE TRAIL OF THE GO-HAWKS 


th’ world?” asked Prudence on the way home. 

'^Oh, Fd rather be a beautiful princess or 
th’ president’s wife or — ” 

^^But that won’t do for a circus,” inter- 
rupted Prudence. 

‘^Well, then let’s be bareback riders an’ 
go round an’ round th’ ring on our horses an’ 
Napoleon can stand in th’ middle an’ crack 
a whip at us,” continued Patience, ^^only 
where ’ll we get th’ horses? ” 

We’ll have just pretend ones. We can 
ride broomsticks. This circus mustn’t be 
like any other circus, ’cause Jack said it must 
be different.” 

^^If we ride broomsticks then how can we 
be bareback riders?” asked Patience. 

Prudence studied the question and then 
her eyes brightened. tell you! We can 
cut the backs out of our waists an’ then we’d 
be bareback riders.” 


106 


THE TRAIL OF THE GO-HAWKS 


^'Auntie wouldnT like it.’’ 

‘'Dear me, Pat, I never saw such a girl. 
One’d s’pose you were ’bout two years old, 
an’ here you are with your children gettin’ 
married. You mustn’t get in th’ habit of 
thinkin’ ’bout things t’ worry over. Jack 
says it’s always more comfortable not t’ 
worry ’bout anythin’ till ev’rythin’s all over. 
Course Auntie won’t* care an’ I wouldn’t be 
s’prised if she rode bareback herself when she 
was little. She told father she’d a strong 
back ’cause she exercised it when she was 
little. If we are goin’ t’ be bareback riders 
we have t’ have bare backs. Our backs are 
not Auntie’s backs are they?” 

Patience could not withstand such argu- 
ments and even to her it did seem that they 
might do as they pleased about their own 
backs. Remembering that Donald liked to 
use scissors they decided to ask him to cut 


107 


THE TRAIL OF THE GO-HAWKS 


the backs out of their waists the day of the 
circus. 

Donald — fussy little Donald, whose sense 
of humor was scarcely normal, asked to be 
the clown and Jack, divining at once the 
humor of the idea, consented. 

When the day arrived, coming slowly as 
circus days have a habit of doing, a good- 
sized audience assembled on the lawn and 
took seats on the grass. Two of the Indians 
sold pop-corn and peanuts, crying their wares 
in the most approved manner. 

The audience was a little impatient and 
while waiting for the performance threw 
peanut shells at one another. To amuse 
themselves some of the more active played 
leapfrog. The gate-keeper had a fight with 
two small urchins, who were determined to 
see the circus and had not the necessary eight 
pins to pay for admission. 


108 


THE TRAIL OF THE GO-HAWKS 


You needn’t think this is a charity show,” 
sarcastically called the victorious to the 
vanquished. 

The audience was appreciative, cheering 
everything and encoring every performer. 
The twins had managed to walk the tight rope 
and return to the barn with no greater mishap 
than torn stockings. They then began to 
make ready for their great bareback feat. 
Donald admired the calm nerve of the girls 
when he cut the backs out of their waists. 

^^They were not half bad squaws after all,” 
he whispered to Piggy. During the cutting, 
Napoleon, who had been provided with a 
horsewhip, stood by in awed silence. He 
had never in his life owned a piece of apparel 
that was whole and it was past his compre- 
hension how any one could deliberately cut 
up good clothes. 

You squaws ’ll probably catch your death 


109 


THE TRAIL OF THE GO-HAWKS 


cold with your bare backs. I wouldn’t be 
surprised if you got consumption,” suggested, 
from force of habit, the ever depressing 
Donald. 

^'It’s ’most as good as goin’ barefoot,” 
answered Prudence, who was busy pinning 
to her short skirt the tinsel she had borrowed 
from the Christmas tree supplies. 

^^Oh, Pat, you do look perfec’ly stylish,” 
she whispered enthusiastically to her sister a 
minute later as they pranced forth on their 
broomstick steeds. 

They heard Jack announcing their names 
and thrilled with pride when he added, “no 
other circus in th’ world has such a bareback 
ladies’ feat. We own it and it’s worth a hun- 
dred pins t’ see. This is th’ last time th’ 
bareback ladies ’ll appear in this country, 
for after th’ performance to-day they leave 
at once for their home in China.” 

no 


THE TRAIL OF THE GO-HAWKS 


Round and round the ring they rode to the 
wide-eyed amazement of the spectators. As 
Napoleon cracked his whip they leaped off 
their broomstick steeds and then on again. 
Their cheeks grew red from excitement, as 
faster and faster they flew, finally returning 
breathless to the barn, with the wild applause 
ringing sweetly in their ears. 

mean t^ be a bareback rider forever,^^ 
announced Patience, ^^but,” she continued 
aghast, — ^'whatfll we wear over our backs 
goin^ home now? I don’t believe auntie an’ 
father’d like t’ have us walk home with bare 
backs.” 

^^We can hang grapevines over our shoul- 
ders,” replied resourceful Prudence. Any- 
how some heathens don’t have any clothes 
ever, an’ we mustn’t mind ’bout a piece o’ 
ours bein’ gone,” she added severely. There 
goes th’ clown, oh, lookee!” 

in 


THE TRAIL OF THE GO-HAWKS 


Donald, dressed in pajamas, his face covered 
with flour paste, tried hard to be funny. 
However, his natural temperament was now 
against him, and he made poor headway. 
When the performance was about half over 
Jack called Donald to a secluded nook in the 
bam. 

^^Say, kid,^’ he whispered, ^^use a little more 
ginger an’ make everybody laugh harder.” 

^^How?” asked matter-of-fact Donald. 
ain’t got any ginger, have you?” 

don’t mean real ginger, but just do 
somethin’ funny, you know. Catch Susie 
round th’ waist, ’cause she don’t like boys a 
little bit, an’ give her a kiss an’ let on it’s all 
her fault. Say somethin’ funny.” 

^^But what’ll I say?” persisted the clown, 
aghast at the task before him and knowing 
that he must obey. 

“You might say ^unhand me villian! I 


112 


THE TRAIL OF THE GO-HAWKS 


thought you were my sister/ or somethin^ 
like that/^ instructed Jack. 

Donald started forth, fearful and unhappy. 
“Unhand, unhand me, unhand me,^^ he re- 
peated over and over. At that moment 
there was a pause in the performance. The 
audience saw the clown and waited to be 
amused, for was it not his province? 

The uncomfortable clown walking round 
and round the ring made a dash at unsuspect- 
ing Susie. He kissed her hastily on the spot 
nearest which chanced to be her freckled 
nose and shouted in wild terror, “unhand, 
unhand me sister. I thought we were a 
sister.^^ He then fled to the barn, tripping 
on a stray board and tearing his foot cruelly on 
a rusty nail. He gave one sharp cry of pain; 
then struggled to control himself. 

“ Poor old Don,” said Jack to the sufferer, 
“It^s all my fault ^cause I made you ginger 


113 


THE TRAIL OF THE GO-HAWKS 


up. ril close the circus up, ^cause theyVe 
had eight pins worth anyhow an’ I’ll let you 
ride home on my pony,” he concluded, rue- 
fully looking at the bleeding foot. 

He then walked thoughtfully to the circus 
grounds. As chief of the Go-Hawks he felt 
it was a fitting occasion for him to make a 
speech. ^'Circus speculators an’ friends,” 
he began, addressing the audience. ^'It’s 
my painful duty t’ tell you that th’ circus 
must quit an’ go home. Our worthy an’ 
honor’ble clown, Donald Brown, has been 
misfortunate ’nough t’ get hurt on an old 
ten-penny nail an’ he’s all covered with 
blood. This has cast a gloom over th’ circus 
and I must take his remnants home, So’ll 
you kindly walk out quietly?” 

The majority of the audience was under 
ten years and possessed somewhat scanty 
vocabularies. They did not understand the 


114 


THE TRAIL OF THE GO-HAWKS 


meaning of all the speaker's words, and some 
were not positive but that Donald had been 
killed. However, they all knew that Jack 
wished them to go home and they trudged 
away. 



115 


Half Mourning. 


The clown of the Go-Hawks was ill, the 
result of his fall on the rusty nail. He tossed 
feverishly from side to side in his little bed, 
raving in his delirium. don^t like long 
yeller curls a-danglin^ an^ I don^t like dolls. 
Do I, mother? he would ask pleadingly. 
''I like th’ squaws though, mother, an’ don’t 
say I don’t, ’cause I do an’ now they’re 
yeller all over. Take ’em away! Take ’em 
away!” he screamed. '‘I want t’ see th’ 
Indians,” and thus his mind wandered on all 
through the long summer day. 


116 


THE TRAIL OF THE GO-HAWKS 


Donald, lean and lank, who had grown 
too fast to accumulate much flesh and whose 
head seemed too heavy for his body, was a 
familiar figure in the western town. He had 
a queer fashion of peering at one through his 
glasses and a strongly developed habit of 
raising objections to everything. As a mem- 
ber of the illustrious tribe of Go-Hawks, 
whom no amount of punishing nor threaten- 
ing could intimidate, much less scatter, he 
was somewhat known to local fame. The 
news of his serious illness was received with 
much interest, and, among his fellow Go- 
Hawks caused the greatest consternation. 
Sitting Bull assembled his tribe in the hayloft 
of Pawnee Dirt Lodge, that was one of the 
favorite meeting places and plotting grounds. 
There was no joking among the youngsters 
that afternoon; they took their places quietly, 
their faces full of a nameless anxiety. 


117 


THE TRAIL OF THE GO-HAWKS 


Indians/’ began Sitting Bull soberly, 
it’s my unworthy duty to call you together 
t’ perform a sad bus’ness. I heard my mother 
tell my father that Rain-in-the-Face was 
most likely t’ die to-night.” A sob arrested 
the speaker’s attention. It was Running 
Water who could not bear to think of Rain- 
in-the-Face in pain, and because she wept, 
Whispering Leaves wept. Sitting Bull felt 
that he must suggest something to cheer his 
Indians, though his own heart was heavy. 

Don’t cry, but let’s do somethin’ t’ show 
our ’preciation of our sick brave. I once 
went t’ a service with father — his lodge gave 
it — an’ they each got up an’ said a lot o’ nice 
things ’bout their departed brothers. We 
might do this now for Rain-in-the-Face an’ 
mebbe it’d make us feel better an’ then we 
can think o’ somethin’ else. Let’s have a 
silent prayer,” suggested Sitting Bull. The 


118 


THE TRAIL OF THE GO-HAWKS 


Go-Hawks who usually spent their time plot- 
ting mischief were silent as directed. 

^‘As your chief I s^pose it's up t' me t' say 
a few words first/' said Sitting Bull. ‘‘Our 
sufferin' Rain-in-the-Face is full of virtue. 
He goes t' Sunday school when he'd rather 
go fishin'. When he stuck a pin on th' 
teacher's seat and she sat down on it he said 
he was sorry." 

“Yes, an' Rain-in-the-Face always gives 
me half his apple at school," chimed in Run- 
ning Water. 

“ When I tore my dress he went home with 
me an' told auntie he did it, 'cause he didn't 
want me t' get scolded," added Whispering 
Leaves. 

“Yes, but I bet yer, he never told her he 
cut yer curls off," interrupted Piggy. 

“We're tellin' good things to-day, Piggy, 
so shut up," commanded Sitting Bull sternly. 


119 


THE TRAIL OF THE GO-HAWKS 


^‘An’ when I cut my toe he tied it up/' 
said another. 

‘‘When I had th' sore throat an' couldn't 
go out o' doors he made a big snow man in our 
yard for me t' see," offered Spotted Wolf. 

“Yes, an' he hooked all his mother's roses 
an' gave 'em t' me t' put on 'Lizbeth's grave 
on her birthday," sobbed a lad whose baby 
sister's death had been his first great sorrow. 

“When his mother gave a party he asked 
the cook to lemme lick th' ice-cream freezer 
an' it was bully," asserted Little Smoke. 

Thus round and round the circle were 
offered eulogies to Rain-in-the-Face until in 
reviewing his many virtues the childish 
hearts grew lighter. 

“ Say, if all you Indians '11 wait up here in 
th' hay," said Sitting Bull, “I'll take Whis- 
pering Leaves, we'll go an' see if we can find 
somethin' we can do t' show Rain-in-the-Face 


120 


THE TRAIL OF THE GO-HAWKS 


an^ his mother how sorry we are/’ The tribe 
assented and the two started away. 

^‘Where’ll we go?” asked Whispering 
Leaves. 

^^It’s best t’ ask some one who’s had ex- 
perience in dealin’ with people at death’s 
door,” answered the boy gravely. Let’s 
go t’ th’ undertaker’s. I know him an’ he 
let me ride on th’ hearse once,” he added in 
an awed voice. 

The undertaker was in his office, and, even 
though he may have been surprised to re- 
ceive a call from the two sober-faced children, 
he did not disclose the fact. 

^^What can I do for you, sir?” he asked 
Sitting Bull, who stood cap in hand. 

want some advice,” replied the chief. 
'^What do people do when their friends are 
dead to show how sorry they are? Can’t 
they wear somethin’ or do somethin’?” 


121 


THE TRAIL OF THE GO-HAWKS 


The undertaker studied the question before 
replying. Folks are very different about 
those things, but some men wear bands of 
crape on their arms or hats.^’ 

Seems t^ me I once heard my mother 
say somethin’ ’bout half mournin’,” ventured 
Sitting Bull. Would it be too much trouble 
t’ tell us what that means?” 

guess folks consider violet color half 
mournin’ — ” just then the telephone bell 
rang and the undertaker was called away. 

“Guess that’s ’bout all we need t’ know 
anyhow,” said the chief as they started 
home. “You see, Rain-in-the-Face is only 
’bout half dead, so we wouldn’t wear crape, 
but if we can find a vi’let thing we’ll cut that 
up an’ put bands of it on our caps an’ arms 
an’ stand in front of their house an’ mourn 
for a while. We can walk up an’ down two 
or three times, an’ Mrs. Brown ’ll see us an’ 


122 


THE TRAIL OF THE GO-HAWKS 


know we’re in half mournin’ for our warrior.” 

“Oh, Jack! Jack!” interrupted Whisper- 
ing Leaves, in her enthusiasm forgetting to 
use his title as chief; “Aunt Sallie has a 
vi’let tea jacket, an’ it’d be perfec’ly stylish 
for half mournin’ you know, an’ she’s out t’ 
a party — an’ I’ll run home an’ get it — she 
won’t care — ’cause it’s for a worthy charity 
an’ I heard her tell father that she longed t’ 
help all worthy charities an’ she wanted t’ 
teach us t’ do so.” There was silence for 
a minute. 

“It’s all silk an’ don’t you think it’ll be 
good ’nough?” urged the child. 

“Yes,” the chief answered slowly, “but I 
was thinkin’ what’ll Aunt Sallie say?” 

“I know,” she replied, “but we can’t 
waste time thinkin’ ’bout that, ’cause Rain- 
in-the-Face might get clear dead by mornin’ 
an’ auntie might have on her black petticoat 


123 


THE TRAIL OF THE GO-HAWKS 


80 we couldn^t get it, so I think we’d better 
hurry an’ get in on th’ half mournin’.” 

These practical arguments settled the mat- 
ter and in another half hour the silk tea 
jacket was cut into strips and adorned the 
children’s caps, while a band with a bow was 
tied round each arm. They walked two 
abreast down the quiet, shaded street until 
they reached the Brown home, before which 
stood a physician’s horse and buggy. They 
marched sedately up and down the walk, not 
a smile crossing their faces and then they 
seated themselves in an even row across the 
lawn. It was here that the physician found 
them when shortly after he left the house. 

'‘What are you doing here, youngsters?” 
he asked. 

“ We’re half mournin’ for Rain-in-the-Face, 
that’s Donald, you know,” explained the 
chief. 


124 



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THE TRAIL OF THE GO-HAWKS 


You had better run home now/^ answered 
the physician, ^^for Donald is a very sick 
little boy/^ 

^'Little Smoke would like t^ have us sing 
^ John Brownes Body Lies a-Moulderin^ in th’ 
Grave’ as we march away. Do you think 
that’d make Donald die happy?” asked the 
chief with an earnest desire to leave nothing 
undone. ^^He always liked that song,” he 
concluded. 

Donald is too sick to hear. You must 
go home and I will watch you until you reach 
the corner,” the physician replied, suspecting 
this to be at least a part of the tribe of Go- 
Hawks and not knowing what next their 
whimsical noddles might contrive. 

Sitting Bull rose slowly, the rest reluctantly 
following and soon the band of ^^half mourn- 
ers” had rounded the comer. 


125 



Prepaked for the Worst. 


WISH we could a-sung ^ John Brown’s 
Body Lies a-Moulderin’/’ deplored Little 
Smoke as the band of ^^half mourners” filed 
into the bam and began removing their 
badges of sorrow. 

'^It’d th’ word ^ grave’ in it so seems like 
it ’d have been most ’propriate,” answered 
Sitting Bull, ^‘an’, too, long as Rain-in- the- 
Face likes it so well as he does.” 

What’ re we goin’ t’ do with these things? ” 
asked Piggy holding up strips of violet silk. 


126 


THE TRAIL OF THE GO-HAWKS 


We^d better hide ^em Vay t’ save ’em for 
some other mournin’ time. A man never 
knows when he’ll need such things,” re- 
sponded Sitting Bull, looking round at the 
group of sober-faced children. ^^Any of us 
may have an accident an’ we ought t’ be 
prepared. I only wish we’d some black, so 
when Rain -in -the -Face is dead we’d be 
ready.” 

The squaws exchanged meaning glances 
that boded ill for Aunt Sallie’s black silk 
petticoat. 

^^My Aunt Sallie has a black petticoat, but 
she loves it so much that she wears it ’most 
all th’ time,” said one. 

'^An’ our Sunday school teacher told Susie 
last Sunday that she mustn’t think so much 
’bout things t’ wear, but more ’bout bein’ 
good. P’rhaps it’s that way with auntie 
an’ if she didn’t have that petticoat she’d 


127 


XHE TRAIL OF THE GO-HAWKS 


think more ^bout bein^ good,” added the 
other. 

Sunday school teacher says we ought 
t’ help ev^ry one t^ be good as he can,” re- 
marked Spotted Wolf. 

The chief of the Go-Hawks was much im- 
pressed by the success which had attended the 
efforts of the tribe all the afternoon and it 
now seemed really necessary to be prepared 
with something black in case the worst should 
befall their injured brave. Perhaps iPs 
our duty,” he said, slowly yielding to temp- 
tation and temporizing with his conscience. 

donT think we^d better ask for it,” 
warned Piggy, whose broad experience with 
having requests refused made him now strug- 
gle to obtain his wishes by some other method 
more certain of results. 

think we’d better just s’ prise her,” 
suggested Whispering Leaves. She’ll most 


128 


THE TRAIL OF THE GO-HAWKS 


likely wear her white dress to-night, for it's 
so hot an' when we squaws have gone t' bed 
an' auntie has gone down stairs then we'll go 
into her room, take th' petticoat an' throw 
it out th' window an' you Indians can slip 
into th' yard an' get it 'n' hide it over here 
with th' half mournin' bands." 

The braves nodded a vigorous approval. 
They were in favor of any plan suggestive of 
the war path. 

^^You Indians must be in Broken Arrow 
Town by dusk," directed Sitting Bull. ‘^Bring 
your bows an' arrows, 'cause it may be a 
bloody night's work. Th' pale faces may 
fight. Remember it's in a worthy cause. 
It may help Aunt Sallie be a better lady, an' 
we may need that black stuff to-morrow t' 
mourn for Rain-in-the-Face." 

The mention of Donald caused the little 
ones to scatter more soberly to their homes 


129 


THE TRAIL OF THE GO-HAWKS 


than was their wont. The twins, however, 
talked briskly all the way home, for to them 
it had indeed been a most momentous after- 
noon. In their childish way the attempt 
had been very real and sincere to express 
their sorrow over a playmate^s danger. 

“I thought,^^ said Prudence, with pride 
in her voice, that we looked perfec^y stylish 
as we marched down the street, most as 
stylish as if it had been a really truly funeral.” 

'^I wonder if Donald saw us,” mused Pa- 
tience. 

“I hope so, ^cause iVd please him an^ oh, 
Pat, how grand iPll be t^ have th^ Indians 
stealin^ up to-night. We can watch for 'em 
an' sit in th' window an' shiver. Oh! I hope 
father an' auntie won't hear 'em an' go out 
'cause they might get killed.'' 

Miss Sallie was dressed in white that even- 
ing, just as Prudence had foretold. Plans 


130 


THE TRAIL OF THE GO-HAWKS 


favored the children in every way, for at the 
dinner table the professor urged his sister 
to make a neighborhood call with him. 

'‘You^l not be lonely, will you, dears? 
she asked the twins as she consented. ^^At 
all events, I want you to be in bed by half- 
past seven to-night for you have been playing 
hard all day.” 

They consented so readily to going to bed 
that Miss Sallie remarked to her brother, as 
they strolled down the street in the gather- 
ing twilight, hope the children are not 
ill; I never knew them to be so willing to 
retire.” 

^^111! nonsense, since they have been play- 
ing so much out of doors with the youngsters 
they are ruddier and stronger than ever.” 

Notwithstanding these reassuring words. 
Miss Sallie pondered over the subject several 
times during the evening, for she was gaining 


131 


THE TRAIL OF THE GO-HAWKS 


in wisdom as she guided these mischievous 
little ones from year to year. 

As for the twins, they executed a war dance 
on their bed as the footsteps died away, then 
stole to Aunt Sallie^s room and secured the 
black silk petticoat. They suffered no pangs 
of remorse, being convinced that auntie’s 
good demanded the sacrifice. They rolled 
the petticoat into a small bundle and then 
stationed themselves in the window to watch 
for the coming of the warriors. 

They shivered delightfully at every sound. 
When they heard the familiar war-whoop they 
trembled, and so great was the capacity of 
Prudence to '^make believe” that she said 
anxiously, ^^Oh! I hope there’ll not be a 
bloody battle.” 

One, two, three figures they saw stealing 
out from the shadows of the trees and creeping 
stealthily towards the house. Then the squaws 


132 


THE TRAIL OF THE GO-HAWKS 


dropped the bundle from the window and as 
they jumped back into bed Patience said 
enthusiastically, ^^Oh! Fd rather be a squaw 
than be an angel/^ 

^^Yes, an’ one kind a-feels like an angel, 
too, for we’ve done good work to-night an’ 
if father only knew, he’d be glad that we’re 
helpin’ auntie t’ be a better lady.” 

Fortunately for the fate of the petticoat, 
Donald recovered and the tribe was not 
compelled to adopt whole mourning.” It 
was a great comfort to the chief to know, 
however, that they were prepared for the 
worst. 

People ought t’ be pretty good t’ their 
children,” he remarked to Prudence one 
morning, ^^or the Lord might think they did 
not ’preciate ’em an’ recall ’em like mother 
did her invitations last spring.” 

^^I wouldn’t be at all s’rprised if He was 


133 


THE TRAIL OF THE GO-HAWKS 


tryin^ recall Donald for somethin’ his 
mother did,” answered Prudence piously. 

^^I’m glad He changed His mind,” con- 
tinued Jack, an’ I sometimes think we ought 
to do somethin’ t’ celebrate Don’s gettin’ 
well.” 

Do you mean have a party or somethin’? ” 
asked Patience. 

b’lieve Donald rather have just his 
intimate ’sociates. You might all come over 
t’ our house. Mother’s gone away for a week 
an’ father’s ’way all day an’ say, it might be 
nice t’ s’rprise Mary by you all stayin’ t’ 
dinner.” 

Thus it came about that every Go-Hawk 
received a personal invitation to spend the 
next afternoon at the chief’s home. It was 
so lonely to the little chap without his mother 
that he thought it must be even more so to 
the cook and consequently she would be glad 


134 


THE TRAIL OF THE GO-HAWKS 


to have the Go-Hawks to dinner. However, 
instinct warned him it would be more com- 
fortable to have the affair a surprise. 

The afternoon before the party Jack and 
the twins, by means of a ladder, made their 
way to the roof of the barn, where they 
perched beneath the friendly shelter of a 
huge oak tree and discussed the plans for the 
following day. 

^^Fve been a-thinkin^, girls, it doesnT seem 
hardly ^nough F have a party an^ play games 
just like everybody else does, but we ought F 
do somethin’ different. Can’t you think 
o’ somethin’?” 

The girls puckered their brows in anxious 
thought. They felt deeply the importance 
of the occasion, that their opinion should be 
asked rather than that of any of the boys. 
Ever since their admission into the charmed 
tribe of Go-Hawks they had blindly followed 


135 


THE TRAIL OF THE GO-HAWKS 


Jack’s lead and had never wavered in their 
devotion. They yearned now to think of a 
plan which might be acceptable to him, for 
it seemed wonderful to them that they should 
be the elect chosen to sit on the roof and make 
plans with the chief. When they heard two 
or three shrill whistles in front of the house 
and realized that Jack did not answer but per- 
mitted the boys to walk disconsolately away, 
while he sat in satisfied silence on the peak 
of the barn, their souls thrilled with the joy 
of possession that sent a flush of pride to 
their eager faces. 

You girls ought t’ be able t’ think of some- 
thin’. You can always think of things bet- 
ter’n th’ kids,” encouraged Jack. 

was just a-thinkin’,” began Prudence, 
^'of last winter when one of father’s teachers 
had somethin’ happen an’ they all went up 
there an’ took him presents. Father talked 


136 


THE TRAIL OF THE GO-HAWKS 


to auntie ^bout it an^ said it was such a 
worthy case that he’d like t’ give lots more’n 
he did.” 

^^Had th’ teacher been sick?” asked 
Jack. 

can’t remember. Seems like his house 
burned, but anyway I know they took him 
lots of presents.” 

^^An’ we might bring presents t’ Donald t’ 
show him we’re glad he’s well,” interrupted 
the other girl. 

Jack’s quick imagination pictured Donald 
loaded with gifts; ^'what boy wouldn’t 
like a lot?” he asked himself, and then said 
aloud, I just knew you girls could think up 
somethin’ better’n th’ kids and that’s why 
I invited you up here. We’d better go down 
now and tell all th’ Indians ’bout it so they 
can hunt up some presents.” 

As the girls climbed down. Patience said. 


137 


THE TRAIL OF THE GO-HAWKS 


ought t’ take him somethin’ we like, 
’cause father said people ought t’ be willin’ 
t’ give up somethin’ they like once in a while.” 

The day of the party came. Slow’ little 
Donald, who usually was tail end when “ snap 
the whip” was played and who never failed 
to be ^Gt” first when ^^hide and seek” was 
the game, was almost overcome by the honors 
thrust upon him. 

The children had selected a small tree on 
the far end of the lot for the ceremony. 
Jack and the twins spent the morning tying 
flags and flowers to its branches. The guests 
were requested to deposit their gifts at the 
base of the tree, beneath w^hich a seat was 
placed for Donald. He was led to it by 
Jack. 

Ladies an’ gentlemen, I’d like t’ introduce 
th’ hero of this rememberable occasion, 
Donald Browm,” began the chief. ^^He’s 


138 


THE TRAIL OF THE GO-HAWKS 


been through a war of sickness and conies 
back V us with th^ marks of battle, for his 
hair^s ^most all come out. It^s with great 
pride that we Indians get together t’ ring 
his weather-beaten hands an^ extend our 
congratulations. These few tokens of ^steem 
we hope 41 give you pleasure. If the warrior 
has anything t^ say th^ audience 41 listen, 
concluded Jack, who had a somewhat hazy 
idea that responses were usually made to 
speeches of welcome. 

Under Jack^s encouraging eye Donald rose. 
‘‘I ain’t never been in a war, but my hair’s 
all cornin’ out anyway, ’most as bad as if 
’twas shot off. It’s nice t’ get presents but 
’taint my birthday, but I’m glad — but — 
but — ” and then the speaker was interrupted 
by applause as Jack had directed. The 
guest of honor was so embarrassed that he 
sat down suddenly and, as bad luck would 


139 


THE TRAIL OF THE GO-HAWKS 


have it, in his confusion he did not take the 
seat arranged for him, but sat down on one 
of his gifts — a berry pie, that was originally 
intended for dinner at Piggy's home and 
which the latter had secretly and generously 
donated to the cause. 

This mishap closed the formalities ab- 
ruptly, since the linen suit worn by the guest 
of honor was never designed to be decorated 
with berry pie. ^^If it'd only had been a 
pumpkin pie it wouldn't have shown so," he 
muttered. 

Don't you mind," whispered Patience, 
*'ril wash it off 'fore dinner." 

Such an assortment of gifts! An old 
dictionary and a top stood side by side with 
green apples and a banana. Jack had con- 
tributed some of his father's dress ties and an 
old razor. The twins, practical little souls, 
reasoned that Donald would enjoy having 


140 


THE TRAIL OF THE GO-HAWKS 


some money for his bank. Encouraged 
as they so often were by their firm and 
cherished conviction that if Aunt Sallie and 
father only knew all about it they would be 
glad to have them help, they took without 
hesitation a few pennies from the purse of 
change which was kept in the kitchen-table 
drawer for convenience in paying the market 
man. 

Almost before they knew it the afternoon 
was gone and the Go-Hawks saw Mr. Carroll, 
accompanied by a strange man, drive up to 
the door and then the voice of Mary called, 
^^Jack! Jack! You must come at once and 
wash your hands and face.^^ The members 
of the tribe looked at Jack and then at each 
other. He rose beautifully to the occasion. 

^^Come on, folks, weM better all wash. 
Just follow me,^^ he said hospitably, and the 
youngsters trooped after him towards the 


141 


THE TRAIL OF THE GO-HAWKS 


house. The chief^s face was a little more 
thoughtful than usual, since he chanced to 
remember just then that he had not thus far 
spoken to any one about his dinner party. 



142 



The youngsters filed quietly upstairs 





« 







» • 


••f 







CHAPTER X. 



Surprising the Cook. 

Jack had the presence of mind to usher 
his guests by the side-door into the house that 
his father and Mary might not be needlessly 
disturbed. The youngsters who felt much 
more at ease in the barn or on the lawn, filed 
quietly up the stairs, consequently reaching 
the bath-room unnoticed. 

^^We^d better wash, just as many of us as 
can at once, for we havenT much time,’^ said 
Jack, an^ some of you Indians better take th' 
tub an^ let th^ squaws have th^ stand first/' 


143 


THE TRAIL OF THE GO-HAWKS 


So many supplicants for water at one time 
did not afford opportunity for very effective 
work. However, it was evident to even a 
casual observer that an attempt, at least, had 
been made to remove the stains of the after- 
noon. Napoleon seemed the most present- 
able when the operation was concluded. 
Patience redeemed her promise and endeav- 
ored to remove the marks of the berry pie 
from Donald^s linen suit. In her nervous 
hurry she used more water than was com- 
fortable. 

^^Fd ’bout as soon sit in th’ pie all th’ 
evenin’ as t’ be soakin’,” he remarked for- 
lornly to the infinite delight of the others. 

‘^We oughter call you ^Squash,’” pro- 
posed Piggy. 

Mary had announced dinner and still Jack 
did not make his appearance. Mr. Carroll 
was annoyed. Prompt and methodical him- 


144 


THE TRAIL OF THE GO-HAWKS 


self he had tried to instill into his son the 
principles of punctuality and a proper con- 
sideration for another's time. A merry ring- 
ing laugh floated down the stairs, then a wild 
scamper and commotion in the bath-room. 
Mr. Carroll was startled for he had heard the 
maid call Jack into the house and could not 
understand the meaning of the noise. As 
he opened the library door to call his son, a 
shrill voice cried, ^^Dare you! dare you! to 
slide down the stairs, all o^ you t^ once.’’ 

Who’s ’fraid?” was the answer to the 
challenge and down they came, breathless, 
laughing, with Jack in their midst. 

^^Oh, father!” cried Jack enthusiastically, 
didn’t we do that great? I want t’ intro- 
duce my Indians t’ you.” 

^^In just a moment I shall be delighted, 
but please come here first,” was the quiet 
reply. 


145 


THE TRAIL OF THE GO-HAWKS 


The lad followed his father into the library. 
‘‘What is the meaning of this, son? Who 
are those children and what are they doing 
here? ” 

“They’re my Indians an’ I invited ’em 
to dinner. I thought, you know, it’d be nice 
t’ s’rprise Mary. You see, father, it’s lone- 
some in this house ’thout mother, an’ I felt 
kind a-sorry for Mary so I thought I’d ask 
th’ Indians all here t’ dinner. It’s in honor 
of Donald, too. You don’t want me t’ tell 
’em t’ go home after I invited ’em t’ come, 
do you, father?” 

“No, if they are here by your invitation I 
will stand by you. However, do not plan 
any more surprises during your mother’s 
absence. Run out to the kitchen and tell 
Mary to put on additional plates and if 
possible enough for us to eat. I, too, have 
a guest, so after you have seen Mary bring 


146 


THE TRAIL OF THE GO-HAWKS 


your friends to the study and introduce 
them/^ 

I was not aware that my son was giving a 
party when I invited you to come home for a 
quiet evening/^ said Mr. Carroll to his friend. 
“The boy is hospitable and has invited his 
entire tribe of Indians to dine with him as a 
surprise to the cook.” 

“Do not worry about me,” replied the 
friend; “we have no children and I shall 
enjoy the experience.” 

“ I have always made it a point to stand by 
Jack when possible, even when I do not 
altogether approve of his methods, and that 
is very often. I never wish to humiliate him 
before his friends and we settle all points of 
difference when we are alone. Jack and I 
are chums, and he and his mother are avowed 
sweethearts. Yesterday, one of the neigh- 
bors asked me, somewhat solicitously I 


147 


THE TRAIL OF THE GO-HAWKS 


thought, when we were going to send Jack 
away to school, and the question suggested 
that people in this part of the town will not 
be sorry when he is old enough to go, for 
Jack^s inventive turn of mind leads him 
into all sorts of mischief/^ 

The door opened and Jack^s sturdy little 
figure entered, leading the procession. 

Father, these are my friends, my Indians, 
you know. This is Whispering Leaves, Run- 
ning Water, Spotted Wolf, Rain-in-the-Face 
an’ oh, excuse me, father, I forgot you were 
pale faces. This is Pat an’ Prue an’ Napoleon 
an’ Donald, an’ Wiggles an’ Squint an’ 
Cheese an’ Pinky an’ Reddy an’ Ginger an’ 
Irish an’ Fat an’ Bones an’ Bleary an’ last 
but not least. Piggy Runt.” 

Mr. Carroll’s eyes twinkled as he shook 
hands with each child. His guest was over- 
taken with a spasm of coughing, necessitating 


148 


THE TRAIL OF THE GO-HAWKS 


his temporarily leaving the room. Jack^s 
introduction, using the suggestive nicknames 
of the children, was irresistibly comical to 
him and he was still smiling when they all 
entered the dining room. 

The dinner proved a success. The soup 
course was replaced by bowls of bread and 
milk, the coffee by lemonade and the pie and 
cheese by cookies and fruit. Upon Jack and 
the older men fell the burden of conversation, 
although each of the twins thought of some- 
thing to say, and Donald from force of habit 
remarked that he really liked brown bread 
better than he did white. Fat gazed yearn- 
ingly at his empty lemonade glass wondering 
if he dared ask for more. He whispered the 
longing to Napoleon, who was nursing a 
similar yearning, and thus encouraged the 
latter immediately asked Bones to ask Ginger 
to ask Squint to ask Wiggles to tell Jack that 


149 


THE TRAIL OF THE GO-HAWKS 


Fat wanted some lemonade awful bad^^ if 
there was any. 

The result was that all the glasses were re- 
filled ; then Donald wondered if two glasses of 
lemonade would hurt his milk and Prudence 
whispered warningly, ^^Don^t be objectioning 
to things ’cause you’re out t’ dinner an’ it 
isn’t perlite ! ” At these words Donald braced 
up and hastily drank his lemonade as though 
he feared it might be taken from him. 

The dinner was over and opinions as to its 
success were varied. Mary glanced regret- 
fully at the luscious steak that was returned 
to the ice-chest and vowed if that boy 
was hers he should receive a good thrashing 
for “bringing all those dirty younguns into 
the house. There ain’t no sense to it,” 
she said to herself over and over, and de- 
clared if she hadn’t been there ever since 
Jack was born that she wouldn’t stay another 


150 


THE TRAIL OF THE GO-HAWKS 


hour in the house. And then to have 
Jack say that he did it to please me — 
she muttered with offended dignity. ^'Strange 
ideas some folks have about pleasing. He 
sha^nT have a single cookie to-morrow.^' 
After she visited the bath-room and viewed 
the finger marks, and towels thrown every- 
where, Jack^s chances for cookies for several 
days were indeed slight. 

As for the guests, it was the first really 
fashionable dinner the majority had attended. 
Their shyness, never very pronounced at 
other times, led them to make their exit 
directly after leaving the table. Their com- 
ments were many and original as they scam- 
pered home in the twilight. 

wish^t folks would give more dinner 
parties,^' quoth Piggy, ^^^cause at other folks^ 
dinners a feller can hev all he wants t^ eat 
an^ he can’t always at home.” 


151 


THE TRAIL OF THE GO-HAWKS 


** It^s so perfectly stylish be out t’ dinner, 
just as if you were grown up. I wanted t' 
talk more at th^ table, but Aunt Sallie said 
weM better not say much o’ anythin’ an’ 
then we’d be sure not t’ say anythin’ we 
ought not to,” complacently remarked Pru- 
dence. 

'^That lemonade wasn’t sweet ’nough,” 
commented Donald. 

^‘You ought’n say anythin’ ’bout it if it 
wasn’t, ’cause th’ party was in your honor an’ 
it isn’t perlite,” retorted Patience with much 
severity. 

Napoleon was inclined to walk more haught- 
ily than usual after he had left the other chil- 
dren. It had been the greatest event of his 
life, and he could scarcely believe that he 
was returning home from a dinner party 
given in a beautiful dining room, where he 
had been the sole representative of his race. 


152 


THE TRAIL OF THE GO-HAWKS 


wouldn’t be surprised if some mornin’ I’d 
wake up jes as white as Jack,” he whispered 
to himself as he entered his cabin home. 
As for the youthful host, he lingered by 
request for a brief chat with his father before 
retiring. ^'Tell me, son, why did you invite 
all those children to dine with you, and 
why did you not ask permission?” inquired 
the father. 

“Well, father, you see, some o’ those kids 
were never invited out to dinner in all their 
lives. Ginger’s awful poor an’ so’s Squint. 
They don’t even use napkins at their houses. 
Napoleon never sat down with white people 
before and they don’t even use a table-cloth 
at their house ’cause there’s so many kids an’ 
his mother has t’ wash all th’ time anjrway. 
I thought it’d be nice t’ have ’em all together 
an’ let ’em see how pretty we have ev’rything 
an’ let ’em have all they wanted t’ eat.” 


153 


THE TRAIL OF THE GO-HAWKS 



'^But how did you know they could have 
all they wanted to eat if no preparations had 
been made for their visit? ” 

'^Mary always has plenty an^ I didn’t want 
t’ bother her ’bout it beforehand. It seemed 
like she’d be happier if she was s’rprised,” 
answered Jack. ^^I didn’t mean t’ worry 
her,” continued the boy, ^^an’ you don’t care, 
do you, father? I thought mebbe it’d be 
better t’ have th’ dinner party while mother’s 
’way, ’cause Irish’s ears are not always clean 
an’ Ginger has t’ go barefoot all summer t’ 
save his shoes for school an’ that might make 
her nervous. But I wouldn’t like to leave 
’em out, though.” 

^^What about me, Jack? Do you think I 
enjoy dirty ears and sweaty boys?” 

— o, but you’re a man an’ o’ course you 
wouldn’t really mind. But you know you an’ I 
have t’ take care of mother an’ not worry her.” 


154 


THE TRAIL OP THE GO-HAWKS 


^'You are a funny chap, Jack, and I pre- 
sume there are many who would say that I 
do not punish you half enough. But never 
mind, run along to bed now. However, 
promise me first, son, that you will not lie 
awake to-night trying to think of something 
to do to-morrow, and — ^you must have no 
more dinners for a while.^’ 

The boy smiled and called back as he 
started up the stairs, “I wouldn’t swap 
fathers with any other kid in th’ whole world.” 



155 


Retribution. 


‘‘WHATd’ you s^pose has become of the 
squaws?’^ asked Jack of Donald a few days 
after the dinner. haven’t seen ’em any- 
where an’ I’ve walked past their house a lot 
o’ times.” 

‘‘I don’t know,” replied Donald, ^^’less 
they both have th’ mumps an’ then o’ course 
they wouldn’t want t’ show their faces.” 

All misfortunes at this time were associated 
in the speaker’s mind with illness. Both 
boys were stretched full length on the grass, 
their caps pulled down to shade their eyes. 


156 


THE TRAIL OF THE GO-HAWKS 


Well, one thing sure pop, they’d never go 
back on the Go-Hawks. We’ve never been 
sorry we let ’em in, for they’ve always obeyed 
orders an’ done what we told ’em to an’ if 
they’re in any trouble now I’m goin’ t’ help 
’em out. It’s our bus’ness to protect ’em 
’cause they’re our squaws.” 

Donald studied in silence and then said 
slowly, ^^I wish ’t they weren’t twins — that’s 
my objection to ’em. It makes ’em look too 
much alike all th’ time.” 

'^You always find somethin’ th’ matter, 
Don. I s’pose if you had died an’ gone to 
Heaven you’d have found somethin’ th’ mat- 
ter there. Don’t you ever feel like everythin’ 
is all right an’ laugh just ’cause you’re glad?” 

'^But what’d I laugh at? There’s no fun 
laughin’ ’cept you’ve somethin’ t’ laugh 
’bout.” 

^^I like you, Don, even if you are queer 


157 


THE TRAIL OF THE GO-HAWKS 


and fussy, and perhaps you^ll outgrow kickin’ 
’bout everythin’. I once knew a girl and 
they said she was outgrowin’ fits an’ that’s 
worse than what you’ve got, so don’t worry. 
Let’s get somethin’ t’ eat. I’m hungry.” 

The Trevellyn home had not been a cheer- 
ful place the past few days. Miss Sallie 
was dressing one afternoon when callers 
came. She wished her violet tea jacket. She 
searched hastily, finding no trace of it, and 
was the more puzzled since the day before 
she had the same experience with her black 
silk petticoat. She knew positively that she 
had hung it on its accustomed hook in her 
closet and yet it seemed to have disappeared, 
mysteriously, absolutely. The violet tea 
jacket had apparently met the same fate. 
Late in the afternoon she searched again in 
vain and then called to the twins, who were 


163 


THE TRAIL OF THE GO-HAWKS 


playing in their room. Children, have either 
of you seen my tea jacket?'’ 

There was a significent silence from the 
next room. ^‘Children, do you hear me?" 
she called. 

** What '11 we do? What '11 we do? What- 
e-v-e-r'll we do?" whispered the girls ex- 
citedly. Then a voice answered haltingly, 
^'We haven't seen it so very lately, auntie." 

Miss SalUe grew suspicious of the drawling 
words. She had not had the care of the twins 
all these years without learning many things, 
one being that they usually knew something 
about everything that went wrong. 

^‘Children, come to me, please," she called 
in a gentle voice. When the children obeyed 
with faltering steps and stood before her, 
first on one foot and then on the other, their 
faces flushed and hands clutching wildly at 
their apron strings, her practiced eye read 
159 


THE TRAIL OF THE GO-HAWKS 


the knowledge of at least one of the missing 
garments. 

^^When did you say you last saw the tea 
jacket?” she questioned, looking keenly into 
the flushed faces. 

“Oh, it must Ve been last month,” an- 
swered one with a brave show of indifference. 

“Where was it then?” 

There was a long and portentous silence 
while the twins felt a wild desire to flee from 
threatened danger. 

“Was it in the closet at that time?” asked 
Aunt Sallie. 

“It was first, auntie,” replied one slowly; 
“yes, it was, for I remember seeing it there 
myself,” she concluded glibly. 

“Then when did you last see it?” 

“The very last time, auntie? It^s kind o^ 
hard t’ remember,” replied Prudence. 

“Auntie feels positive that if you try very 


160 


THE TRAIL OF THE GO-HAWKS 


hard you can remember just where you saw 
it last. You must do it.” 

‘‘Well, then, I suspect th^ very last time 
was down in front o’ Donald’s when it marched 
away,” was the peculiar response given in a 
tone that implied that Prudence considered 
the discussion ended. 

Miss Sallie looked puzzled. “I do not 
understand, children. How could my tea 
jacket march away from Donalds’? He was 
very ill at that time.” 

“Are you goin’ t’ church next Sunday, 
auntie?” queried Patience hopefully. “We 
would like t’ go with you.” 

“Auntie has asked you a question, children, 
and you must answer.” 

The twins looked at each other despair- 
ingly, for Aunt Sallie seemed to have such 
a bad habit of persisting. “You must tell 
either your father or me what you know 


161 


THE TRAIL OF THE GO-HAWKS 


about the jacket. I am convinced that you 
do know something.’^ 

‘'What^s ^convinced/ auntie, please?^' in- 
terrupted Prudence, suddenly thirsting for 
knowledge. 

^^It means that I am very sure you know 
where my tea jacket is and that you must 
tell,” replied Aunt Sallie, ignoring the op- 
portunity thus given to forget the question 
at hand. 

There was another long pause and then 
she said firmly, I am waiting.” 

The children sighed. ^^If you must know, 
I s^pose we must teU,” then said Patience. 
^'It was a most worthy cause though.” 

Then bravely spoke Prudence, ^^Pll tell, 
^cause I did it. You see, auntie, Donald 
wasn’t more’n half dead an’ th’ undertaker 
told Jack ’n’ me that people wore violet for 
half mournin’ an’ black for whole. We were 


162 


THE TRAIL OF THE GO-HAWKS 


Traid DonaldM be clear dead by momin’ an’ 
I didn’t want t’ cut up your black silk petti- 
coat, so we thought we’d better get in on the 
half mournin’, an’ you were at a party so 
we couldn’t ask ’bout it an’ I thought most 
prob’bly you wouldn’t mind, so we cut up 
your tea jacket, ’cause it was just th’ right 
color.” 

^^Yes,” said auntie quietly, but with a 
peculiar expression on her face, ^Hhen what 
did you do?” 

^^Then we went an’ mourned all in a row 
in front o’ Donald’s an’ truly honest, cross — 
m’ — heart — an’ hope — t’ — die, if it isn’t true 
but that was th’ very last time we saw your 
jacket. I shouldn’t be s’rprised, auntie, if 
that helped Donald get well an’ you’re glad 
’bout it, aren’t you?” 

^'Very,” was the reply. ^^Then what did 
you do with my black petticoat?” 


163 


THE TRAIL OF THE GO-HAWKS 


The children looked surprised for they had 
forgotten for the moment about the petticoat. 
However, they did not worry since auntie 
seemed to accept the fate of her jacket so 
calmly. 

^^Oh, I can tell you all ^bout th’ petticoat,” 
answered Prudence, who was generally ready 
with a response to all questions. ^'You see, 
we thought we’d better have some black 
stuff so if we had t’ whole mourn we’d be 
ready an’ so we took your petticoat.” 

'' Perhaps I needed to lose my clothes to 
be disciplined,” mused Aunt Sallie. 

What’s disciplined?” asked Patience. 

I’ll not stop to explain now, but you may 
understand later. You may return to your 
room and you must not leave the yard this 
week.” 

The next morning a little change was 
missed from the market purse which Miss 


164 


THE TRAIL OF THE GO-HAWKS 


Sallie knew she had left there. She then 
invaded her brother’s study, with a deter- 
mined expression on her usually placid face. 
‘^Philip, the time has come when you must 
put aside your books and attend to your 
children,” she said soberly. 

Professor Trevellyn looked at the speaker 
wonderingly. What is the trouble, Sallie?” 
It has been such a long time since you have 
complained to me that I was hopeful they 
were doing better.” 

^‘I dislike to disturb you, Philip, for I 
know how absorbed you are in the book 
you are writing, but I feel it is now neces- 
sary.” 

She then told her brother how the children 
had gone into half mourning for their play- 
mate by means of her beautiful silk jacket 
and of their taking her black petticoat that 
they might be prepared for his death. '^The 


165 


THE TRAIL OF THE GO-HAWKS 


most serious feature to me is that they seem 
to be unconscious that they have done any- 
thing very wrong. This morning I find gone 
a little change which I left in the kitchen 
purse.” 

The professoris face grew very grave. 
^‘This is serious, Sallie. I cannot bear to 
think my children would take even a penny 
which did not belong to them.” 

‘^They would not consider it stealing,” 
she answered. “If they are responsible for 
the disappearance of the money we will find 
that they have taken it for some 'worthy 
cause' as they are fond of saying. I want 
you to talk with them and I will send them 
to you at once.” 

“What d' you s'pose '11 happen now?” 
asked Prudence of her sister as they went 
down stairs a few minutes later. 

“Father hardly ever sends for us 'less he 


166 


THE TRAIL OF THE GO-HAWKS 


doesn^t like somethin^ weVe done ^cause he^s 
always so busy with his bugs an^ beetles,” 
replied Patience. 

Then they reached the study. '^Do you 
want V speak t^ us, father?” ventured one. 

^*1 am sorry about this, children,” he 
answered gravely as he placed an arm 
around each as she stood timidly at his 
side. I hope with all my heart that 
auntie has made a mistake this time, 
little ones, for I am sure that you would 
not want to grieve father,” he began as 
though ashamed of the words he must speak. 
‘^It is just this way. You remember you 
took auntie^s tea jacket and then her petti- 
coat without asking her permission and now 
that she can^t find a little of the money she 
left in the kitchen purse, she is afraid that — 
well — that perhaps you have borrowed it 
and neglected to return it. I do not believe 


167 


THE TRAIL OF THE GO-HAWKS 


that you did take it, did you?’^ questioned 
the father gently. 

The children looked at each other in dis- 
may. They had been so positive that both 
father and auntie would be glad to have them 
remember Donald that they had neglected 
to mention to them their happy inspiration 
to give him some money. 

As he looked into their faces Professor 
Trevellyn’s heart sank. Please tell father 
just how it happened,’^ he said. 

Then they told the story of the missing 
articles, one child supplementing another un- 
til it was all out. 

Long and gravely the father talked to his 
children trying to make them understand the 
difference between right and wrong. 

Well, V\l tell you what we can do,’^ finally 
said Patience, ^^we can bring auntie^s skirt 
back. Donald is well now an^ we won^t have 


168 


THE TRAIL OF THE GO-HAWKS 


t’ mourn, an’ we can ask him t’ give th’ 
money back.” 

“You may bring auntie’s petticoat home, 
but you will have to earn somehow the money 
to repay that which you took and to buy 
auntie a new tea jacket.” 

The twins looked at each other aghast. 
“But how, father, how can we earn money? 
What can we do? Can’t you give us some 
work? Can’t we catch bugs for you?” asked 
one. 

“I can catch lots of bugs, I know,” as- 
serted the other. 

The father studied a moment. He then 
said, “I will pay you for all the weeds you 
dig out of the yard and there are plenty to 
dig, I assure you.” 

“Auntie said we couldn’t go out of the 
yard all week so we might as well begin 
now,” suggested Patience, who was some- 


169 


THE TRAIL OF THE GO-HAWKS 


what nervous under the serious eyes of her 
father. She felt the need of fresh air after the 
excitement of the last half hour. 

This state of affairs explains why Jack 
found the girls digging weeds that afternoon 
out in the side yard. They rested as they 
told him the story of the past few days. 

I hate t^ have you girls diggin’ old weeds 
in th’ sun, anyway it was t^ my party you 
brought that money an’ for one of our In- 
dians we cut up that jacket. Fm goin’ to 
think of some other way t’ earn money an’ 
we’ll help you.” 

^^Oh, Jack, will you?” asked Prudence 
hopefully. ^^My back’s most broke diggin’ 
weeds an’ it isn’t very nice work. There 
isn’t anythin’ ’bout weeds but dirt.” 

I guess I’ll go down to th’ river an’ think 
it out,” announced the chief of the Go-Hawks, 
^^an’ don’t you worry, girls, I’ll stick by you.” 


170 


THE TRAIL OP THE GO-HAWKS 


The girls gazed at his retreating figure. 

just love Jack/^ said Patience with the 
easy candor of extreme youth. ^^He always 
helps you out.’^ 

Yes, he does,^’ answered the sister. Aunt 
Sallie says she^d rather we^d play with girls, 
but I like boys better, ^cause what girkd 
ever think of tyin’ strings V our toes an^ hang 
a long end out o^ th^ window for ^em V pull 
Fourth of July so we could get up early, an^ 
th’ Go-Hawks did that an^ we got up at four 
o^ clock.’’ 

I s’pose we might as well go t’ work with 
th’ weeds while we wait for Jack,” said 
Prudence. I’m goin’ t’ play I’m a pris’ner 
an’ auntie’s a jailor an’ th’ house is a jail. 
’Tisn’t half so hard to do things if you play 
you’re somethin’ else while you are doin’ 
’em,” said the child eagerly. 

^^ril play it, too,” answered Patience. 


171 


THE TRAIL OF THE GO-HAWKS 



''Then get t’ work, prisoner, an^ th’ harder 
we work th^ sooner we^ll get out o^ jail/^ 

The children fell to work vigorously. Aunt 
Sallie smiled as she glanced from the window 
and wondered if they were learning the mean- 


172 



The boy lying on the river bank whistled 
softly to himself. 





The Dawning of Enterprise. 


The boy lying on the river bank whistled 
softly to himself as he gazed at the blue skies 
and overhanging trees as if for inspiration. 
Occasionally he picked up a stone and tossed 
it out over the water. hate t' have ’em 
keep a store or a lemonade stand or sell 
flowers or dig weeds,” he mused. Seems 
hke I ought t’ think o’ somethin’ else; any- 
body can do those things an’ our squaws 
ought t’ do somethin’ different.” 

A sudden gust of wind brought to his feet a 


173 


THE TRAIL OF THE GO-HAWKS 


piece of old newspaper. At first his eyes 
rested on it indifferently and then his face 
brightened. I know lots o’ folks ’ll take it.” 

Jack ran back to the Trevellyn home and 
called excitedly to the twins: “I have it, 
girls, we’ll make th’ money by startin’ a 
newspaper. Then we’ll buy auntie a tea 
jacket, pay back th’ money you took for 
Donald an’ if we have any left do somethin’ 
fine with it.” He paused breathless. 

''Jack, do you s’pose we could make ’nough 
money t’ take all th’ Go-Hawks t’ th’ circus? ” 
asked Prudence, her eyes round with wonder. 

"I don’t know, o’ course, but I think so — ” 

Father says a man can do anything he 
makes up his mind to,” interrupted Patience, 
"so I s’pose if we want t’ do these things we 
can.” 

"An5rway we’ll pay what you owe,” an- 
swered Jack. 


174 


THE TRAIL OF THE GO-HAWKS 


be perfectly stylish own a news- 
paper just as if we^re grown up/^ began 
Prudence, ^‘but how ^11 we print it?'^ 

Don’t need t’ print it. Donald writes th’ 
best o’ any o’ us. He can copy ’em all.” 

The twins gazed in awe at the chief whose 
plans were always so wonderful. 

I know a man who owns a newspaper an’ 
I guess I’ll go an’ ask his advice,” said Jack 
who was a firm believer in applying to head- 
quarters for information. To-morrow I’ll 
come over an’ we’ll start t’ work.” 

The editor was very busy when Jack sought 
him in his private oflSce a half hour later. 
He had a liking for the lad who had furnished 
material for many a comic paragraph, so he 
glanced up smilingly as he held out his hand. 
'^Good evening. Jack, anything new in poli- 
tics among the Go-Hawks?” 

Things ’ ve been pretty quiet, sir, but we, 


175 


THE TRAIL OF THE GO-HAWKS 


at least some of us, are needing to earn some 
money an’ I thought we’d better start a news- 
paper. I’d like a little advice from you.” 

“ So you think that would be an easy way 
to make money?” 

I know it’d be easier than diggin’ weeds, 
an’ it ought t’ be more improvin’.” 

^'I admit that certainly. What kind of a 
paper are you going to start? Is it to be 
religious, sporting or literary? ” 

^'Oh, just a newspaper like yours that 
ev’ry one wants t’ read.” 

Will you be the editor? ” 

‘^I s’pose so,” answered the boy modestly. 
'^Let me see. You must have an editor, a 
business manager and a printer. I presume 
you will have some of the Go-Hawks deliver 
your papers.” 

‘^What’d you have in it t’ read?” was the 
next question. 


176 


THE TRAIL OF THE GO-HAWKS 


^^What had you thought of in that line?^^ 
asked the editor with a twinkle in his eyes. 

Well, you see, I only thought ’bout havin’ 
the paper a few minutes ago, but I think we 
ought t’ have an editorial. That is somethin’ 
like a composition, isn’t it?” 

^'Something, yes,” was the answer. 

^^Th’ girls can make some poetry an’ we 
can have somethin’ ’bout th’ people in the 
neighborhood an’ losts an’ founds an’ things. 
The girls are good at thinkin’ up things. 
Would that be enough for five cents?” 

“Yes, that would do, and here is a quarter 
to pay for my subscription for five weeks. 
If I can help you in any way you must 
call on me. Here is a bunch of paper for 
you. I suppose you’ll write the paper for a 
while.” 

“That’s what we thought. When I’m 
a man I’m goin’ t’ be as nice t’ boys as you 


177 


THE TRAIL OP THE GO-HAWKS 


are/’ replied Jack as he shook hands and with 
a roll of paper left the office. 

“ Fm goin’ V get a lot o’ subscribers t’-night 
an’ s’prise th’ girls,” he resolved, for Jack 
loved to awe the twins. He toiled patiently 
all the evening, thoroughly canvassing the 
neighborhood. He pictured the paper in such 
glowing colors that almost every one he 
approached subscribed for it. The boy col- 
lected in advance and his heart was light 
when he reached home and counted the 
results of his evening’s work. Early the 
next morning he was at the Trevellyn home. 

^^ril write th’ editorial on somethin’ solid 
like—” 

“Like brick?” asked Donald. 

“Yes, that’d do — an’ you girls must each 
write a poem and lots o’ funny things ’bout 
people an’ advertisements. Donald can copy 
it all and Piggy an’ Napoleon take ’em ’round 


178 


THE TRAIL OF THE GO-HAWKS 


when we’re ready. We’ll have t’ work hard 
’cause I promised th’ first paper next week.” 

When Professor Trevellyn returned home 
that evening he found the corner of his house 
decorated with a sign that read: ^'Office of 
the Sun Beem. Editors — Jack Carroll, Pat 
and Prue Trevellyn. Busness Manager, Piggy 
Runt. Printer, Donald Clarey. Newsboy, 
Napoleon Bonaparte. Call Within.” 

Sallie, did you know that this is the office 
of the ^Sun Beam,’ a new publication edited 
by your nieces?” he asked his sister. She 
had not discovered the fact and only knew 
that the children had played quietly with 
paper and pencils all day on the lawn. He 
then told her of his conversation with one of 
his daughters who had assured him that 
they were going to earn sufficient money to 
buy Aunt Sallie a new tea jacket and replace 
the pennies they had taken. 


179 


THE TRAIL OF THE GO-HAWKS 


The first issue of the “Sun Beam’’ was 
awaited with interest. It was somewhat 
delayed because Donald could not write fast 
and the twins had hard work to find words 
that would rhyme. At last it was ready and 
copies were delivered by Napoleon and Piggy, 
who occasioned much merriment as they ran 
from house to house shouting “Here’s yer 
Sun Beams.” 

“Let’s read it all over together,” said Jack 
to the twins. Glowing with the pride of first 
authorship they consented happily. 

The first page was occupied by Jack’s 
editorial; he had ignored Donald’s suggestion 
to write on the inspiring topic of “Bricks” 
and instead wrote the following on “General 
Grant’s Statue.” 

“There stands the man on horseback. 
He has a soard hanging down at his side. 
The statue is of General Grant and is in 


180 


THE TRAIL OF THE GO-HAWKS 


Lincoln Park in Chicago. When General 
Grant died on a brite day in July all Chicago 
knew it and was in moarnin^ before noon. 
He was one of our gratest generals.” 

The poems were given a place of honor 
following the editorial. Patience chose for 
her subject something with which she was 
familiar as follows : 

MY LITTLE DOG. 

I know the deerest doggey, 

He lives not far away, 

He often comes to see me 
And oft with him I play. 

He sits at the window 
And barks at passursbye, 

He is as cute as cute can be 
And never makes me cry. 

He is the deerest doggey, 

In all the world to hold, 

I now must end my poem 
For it is getting cold. 

p, rp, 


181 


THE TRAIL OF THE GO-HAWKS 


As Patience had selected the dog, Prudence 
concluded to honor the family cat. 

MY KITTY. 

She has the britest eyes, 

She runs in and out 
Trying to catch flies. 

She has a little white spot 
Under her chin. 

Around the house she does trot 
Down into the corn bin. 

She likes to run about 
And see what she can see, 

I never can pout 
When shes with me. 

She is a cuning kitten 
As cuning as can be 
She ran off with my mitton 
But shes the cat for me. 

p, rp, 

A society column contributed by Patience 
in the first issue was very ^ newsy. ^ 


182 


THE TRAIL OF THE GO-HAWKS 


^^The new house on the comer is being 
plastured upstares. 

The boy who drives the groacery wagon 
told Donald there would be a cirkus next 
week. 

One of Clareys cows got in our front yard 
and stepped on Aunt Sallies panseys last 
weak. It made her mad. 

Jacks pony ran into a barbwire fence and 
they had to have a horse doctor. He got 
well. The pony I mean. 

Napoleons mother has a sore hand, but she 
hopes to be able to wash soon. 

Mr. Smiths hired man Sam by name says 
when the folks go away he will give a riding 
party. He says he will send out the in- 
vitations in time to be put in next weaks 
paper. 

A funeral went by Piggys house yesterday, 
but I cant put much about it in the paper for 


183 


THE TRAIL OF THE GO-HAWKS 


we did not kno who was in the coaffin. It 
might have been a lady and it might have 
been a man.” 

ADVERTISEMENTS. 

^^The best boots and shoes can be found in 
the bam at Slims. 

For Rent — A tooth brush. Call on Bleary 
799 Molasses street. 

For Sale — A spool of thread. Call on Miss 
Feathery Furch Chickenyard on Maple shuger 
street. 

For Rent — A half pound of bugs. Call on 
Father he has plenty at 13 Fried Potato 
street. 

For Sale — A grashopper. By Mr. Beet 
Peach who is visiting Miss Patience Trevellyn. 

The paper had a wide circulation for so 
new a publication. The chief of the Go- 
Hawks and his warriors were proud. They 


184 


THE TRAIL OF THE GO-HAWKS 


restored the pennies taken from the kitchen 
purse. The remainder of the money they 
took to the nearest dry goods store. ‘^Can 
we get 'nough violet silk with this money t^ 
make a tea jacket?” asked Jack. 

Who is it for and how big is she? ” asked 
the clerk. 

‘^Miss Trevellyn, my aunt,” responded 
Prudence. ^^She^s ^bout as big as that girl 
over there sellin^ thread.” 

The clerk pulled down a roll of violet silko- 
line. ^^You can get enough of this and have 
some money left to buy peanuts on your way 
home,” he suggested, and the Go-Hawks were 
delighted. 

am proud of you children,” said Pro- 
fessor Trevellyn, when they went into his 
study for their goodnight kiss. Father knew 
you would be glad to earn the money and 
would understand how it was.” 


185 


THE TRAIL OF THE GO-HAWKS 


The twins looked at each other approv- 
ingly. They enjoyed the praise. It was not 
often they received any. 

When we^re big girls we^ll keep house for 
you always, father, an’ you may have apple 
pie for ev’ry meal,” said Patience. 

‘‘Yes, you shall an’ I’ll make ’em myself 
an’ put lots o’ apples in ev’ry pie an’ lots o’ 
sugar on th’ top,” added Prudence as she 
threw her arms about her father’s neck. 

“Don’t you love us more’n you do your 
bugs?” she asked. 

Professor Trevellyn laughed. “ Father loves 
his children better than anything in the 
world and he wants nothing so much as 
to see you grow more and more like your 
mother, for — ” 

“ Oh, tell us ’bout her ’gain — please — please, 
father,” and the twins crept into his arms. 
The old-fashioned chair held them all and the 


186 


THE TRAIL OF THE GO-HAWKS 


father^s voice grew tender as he told them 
of their mother. 

It was thus Aunt Sallie found them when 
she came in search of the girls. She looked 
at the trio and then softly closed the door 
and stole away, leaving them alone in the 
twihght. 



187 


CHAPTER XIII. 



A New Field of Activity. 


Piggy Runt^s older sister, Clara-Maude, 
who was not quite sixteen years of age, had 
shown interest for the first time in the wiles of 
the other sex, and was struggling against 
fearful odds to enjoy the experience. Her 
^^beau,’^ as Piggy called him, was two years 
her senior and was collector for a local 
firm. Moreover, it must be stated that this 
was not his first affair of the heart. When- 
ever by accident he chanced to meet Clara- 
Maude on the street he would accompany her 


188 


THE TRAIL OF THE GO-HAWKS 


home, and one evening he went to see her. 

When the call was repeated a few evenings 
later, her parents thought that it was time 
for them to interfere, that she was entirely too 
young to entertain callers, and informed her 
of their decision so positively that they never 
doubted the result. When the conversation 
was repeated by Clara-Maude to her beau, 
the youth replied scornfully, Oh, very well, 
I would not think of forcing my company on 
your father and mother if it is not wanted, 
but you can send me a note by your brother 
every time they are going out and I will come 
up.^’ 

This seemed so brave and romantic to 
Clara-Maude that she consented, and from 
that time began what bade fair to be the 
making of Piggy’s fortune. Fll give you five 
cents to carry a note down to George and not 
tell,” quoth the sister a few days later. 


189 


THE TRAIL OF THE GO-HAWKS 


Let’s see yer nickel,” he responded in 
his most business-like manner. When the 
money was in his grimy hand he stole away. 
The note was safely delivered and the mes- 
senger inquired, ^^Do you want to say any- 
thing back?” 

^^Yes, I do, kid, wait a minute,” was the 
reply. 

** It’ll cost you a nickel t’ get this t’ her an’ 
it’s cheap at that. Got th’ stuff?” asked 
Piggy, thinking joyously of the pop he meant 
to purchase on his way home. 

^^I’ll tell you what, kid,” began George 
persuasively, ^^if you stick by Clara-Maude 
and me and help us out, you’ll get a chance 
to earn a lot of nickels. Is it a bargain?” 

Nickels satisfied Piggy for the first week 
and the notes flew back and forth thick and 
fast. Piggy’s ever hungry stomach received 
a daily tribute of sweetmeats. His cunning 


190 


THE TRAIL OF THE GO-HAWKS 


was so great that he was able to carry two 
notes each way without detection and his 
money-making instincts developed rapidly. 
He became more and more devoted to Clara- 
Maude and her ^^beau/’ somewhat deserting 
the Go-Hawks in consequence. 

Prayer-meeting nights seemed designed for 
surreptitious calls, which, for greater safety, 
were made in the library, where the side door 
might be used if necessity demanded a quick 
exit. Piggy never failed to be on hand, his 
freckled face wreathed in philanthropic smiles. 
While the young couple fully appreciated the 
service of the boy, their relations with him 
were purely of a business character and they 
did not yearn for his society on Wednesday 
nights. They bore with it cheerfully for one 
evening and the next week asked Piggy how 
much he would take to retire. 

The lad studied for a moment and replied. 


191 


THE TRAIL OF THE GO-HAWKS 


so pesky hot an’ I ain’t a bit sleepy so I 
guess th’ job’s worth a quarter.” 

Here’s your quarter,” responded the vexed 
'^beau” with alacrity, ^^now hop, for I can 
only stay till nine o’clock.” 

^^Well, if this beau bus’ ness ain’t th’ fun- 
niest bus’ness I ever saw,” mused Piggy as 
he tumbled into bed. Beaux must be some- 
thin’ like gold mines an’ it wouldn’t make 
me mad if sis’ had ten.” He took the quarter 
to bed with him and the next morning tied 
it in a piece of rag and hid it inside his shirt. 
Only on his birthday had he ever boasted 
of a quarter and he liked to feel it near him. 
Inasmuch as he had a chance to earn a 
dime that day, the quarter and Piggy had 
not parted company that afternoon, when he 
joined the twins. Jack, Donald and Napol- 
eon, who had gathered on the Carroll lawn. 

Where’ve you been so long. Piggy? Seems 


192 


THE TRAIL OF THE GO-HAWKS 


like you’ve been gone ’way somewhere,” 
said Jack. 

I’m in bus’ ness an’ when a feller’s workin’ 
he don’t have much time for loafin’. I’ve 
got a steady job.” 

The children looked at Piggy in amazement. 
However, it was with a feeling of fellowship, 
for had they not been recently in the news- 
paper business and did they not know the 
joy of labor and its compensation? 

Who you a-workin’ for?” asked Napoleon. 

My sister’n her beau. Oh gee ! It’s great ! 
All I have t’ do is t’ carry notes ev’ry day an’ 
sometimes watch at nights in th’ hall — get ten 
cents a job for that, an’ he pays me a quarter 
t’ go t’ bed.” 

Watch for what? Burglars?” asked Pa- 
tience. 

“I don’t know for what I’m watchin’. 
Not t’ watch them, I s’pose.” 


193 


THE TRAIL OF THE GO-HAWKS 


you think thereM be enough work 
fer any o’ th’ rest o’ us?” asked Napoleon 
wistfully. 

Piggy looked doubtful. While he was 
ready to boast of his work he was not ready 
to share it. His love for sweetmeats and 
pop was too pronounced for that. 

^'Do you s’pose when your sister’s through 
with this beau she’ll get ’nother?” asked 
Jack, with an eye toward the future. 

dunno. This is her first one an’ Ma’s 
awful mad ’bout him an’ that’s why he wants 
t’ come when they’re not at home. Beaux’re 
awful rich,” asserted Piggy. 

guess some beaux own banks an’ can 
take all th’ money they want,” ventured 
Prudence. 

I allers thought beaux were kind o’ 
squashy myself. The girl who lives next 
door t’ us has a lot,” declared Donald. 


194 


THE TRAIL OF THE GO-HAWKS 


Jack had been silent during these com- 
ments. If there was any good for one he al- 
ways wished all the Go-Hawks to share it. 

Piggy? if that beau pays you t^ go t^ bed, 
don't you s^pose he^d pay all o^ us somethin’ 
if we just happened t’ be in th’ library when 
he comes t’ see Clara-Maude?” 

^^I s’pose he would, for beaux like t’ be 
’lone,” replied Piggy, a trifle reluctantly. 

''I tell you! We’ll send him a warnin’ 
tellin’ him t’ bring a pocketful o’ money 
Wednesday night or he may be met in a dark 
alley an’ scalped,” suggested the chief of the 
Go-Hawks. 

^^Then let’s say that,” said Napoleon. 

'^It’d scare him a lot worse if you said 
you’re goin’ t’ scalp my sister,” interrupted 
Piggy, who had grown worldly wise. 

^^AU right! I’ll print the warnin’ in red 
paint an’ Napoleon can take it down to- 


195 


THE TRAIL OF THE GO-HAWKS 


morrow. You must look fierce when you 
hand it t^ him, kid.” 

^^Oh, let^s wear war paint an’ feathers an’ 
just as soon as Piggy’s folks go t’ prayer meet- 
in’ we’ll slip in th’ side door an’ hide in th’ 
library, only I s’pose Napoleon ’ll fall over 
somethin’ an’ make a racket an’ we’ll get 
caught,” said Donald. 

Won’t neither, an’ I guess if I carry th’ 
warnin’ I oughter hev a chance at th’ beau,” 
retorted the accused. 

^^Yes, Napoleon’s got t’ be there,” inter- 
rupted Jack, ^^but somehow I’m not so sure 
’bout the squaws. If ’twasn’t at Piggy’s 
house where he has a kid sister it’d be differ- 
ent. She won’t dare t’ interfere with us 
warriors, but she might try t’ talk t’ th’ 
squaws.” 

'^Oh — Jack! It’ll be so excitin’,” mourned 
Patience. 


196 


THE TRAIL OF THE GO-HAWKS 


I know, an’ yet it may be a bloody night’s 
work. We might have t’ kill that beau. 
One never knows what’ll happen when In- 
dians are on th’ war path, but we’ll share ’ll th’ 
plunder with you, an’ if this night’s work is 
successful there ’ll be lots more work where 
you can help,” concluded the chief consolingly. 

The twins were disappointed, but they 
never questioned Jack’s decision, and as they 
parted from the boys Prudence said, “ We’ll 
pray for you to-night.” 

H: ^ ^ 

^^Are you Clara-Maude’s beau?” asked 
' Napoleon the following morning as he ap- 
proached the victim. 

The beau’s” face turned a shade redder 
as he replied haughtily, ^^Well, I can’t see 
that it’s anything to you if I am.” 

^^If yer are, take this warnin’, read it, 
degest it an’ if yer don’t mind what it says. 


197 


THE TRAIL OF THE GO-HAWKS 


yer a-goin hev trouble/’ thundered Na- 
poleon. 

Who’s going to make me trouble? You?” 

^^You wait an’ see. I’m off.” 

The note was opened and read as follows: 

Warning to Clara Maudes bow! 1 I To save 
your life and your girls scalpe you had better 
bring a pockit full of mony tonight when 
you go to see her. If you dont you will be 
sorry for there will be blood to pay before 
the rise of another sun. A frend warnes 
you!” 

The ^^beau” was not at all frightened and 
was even brave enough to laugh good-natur- 
edly, for he was positive the note was from 
Piggy. So he started forth to make his 
prayer-meeting-night call with his pocket 
well filled with pennies and small change. 

Meanwhile Jack, Donald and Napoleon 
had managed to secrete themselves in the 


198 


THE TRAIL OF THE GO-HAWKS 


library. Piggy planted himself firmly in 
plain sight. There seemed no need for him 
to hide. 

^^You here, Piggy, thought maybe you 
would be in bed by this time,^^ remarked the 
beau genially. 

I think you are just horrid to hang around 
this way every week,^’ added the big sister. 

You’d think I was horrider if I was t’ tell 
on you,” began Piggy defensively. 

Here’s your quarter if you go to bed right 
away and stay there,” interrupted the beau. 

^^It’s worth more’n a quarter t’ go t’ bed 
when a feller don’t want to, but you’re such 
a reg’lar customer that I will for you,” was 
the magnanimous reply, and, taking the quar- 
ter, the martyr tramped cheerfully off to bed 
to dream of sweetmeats on the morrow. 

Alas for fond hopes of peace! Piggy had 
no sooner disappeared than from out the 


199 


THE TRAIL OF THE GO-HAWKS 


shadows behind the door stole a swarthy- 
cheeked young Indian. ^^I came t' sit with 
you all th’ eveninV^ he remarked as he took 
a seat on the piano stool. 

‘‘Indeed, and who are you and what will 
you take to encourage you to sit somewhere 
else?^^ asked the beau. 

“I — I’m goin’ t’ be a helper to beaux an’ 
ril leave you in peace if you’ll pay my price.” 

“What’s your price?” 

“Only fifteen cents if you pay cash down.” 

“I am inclined to believe your absence is 
worth fifteen cents,” replied the afflicted 
beau. 

The chief of the Go-Hawks took the money 
and replied courteously, “I hope you’ll have 
a nice time an’ that I can do some more work 
for you. Good-night!” 

As soon as the chief took his departure and 
before the young couple had time to recover 


200 


THE TRAIL OF THE GO-HAWKS 


from their astonishment, forth crawled Donald 
from under the sofa. ^^Fm all stiff from 
sittin’ under that sofa, so I guess Fll sit 
th^ rest of th^ evenin^ on th^ couch with you 
an^ walk home with you,^^ he began in his 
sweetest tones. 

guess not,” replied the beau, putting 
his hand in his pocket. ^Ht is surely a good 
thing I was warned. Here are some pennies 
for you. Take them and go, and if there are 
any more of you Indians hiding around here 
Fd rather you’d all come out at once, for it 
is getting late,” urged the persecuted one with 
a reassuring smile at his wrathful sweetheart. 

I guess there’s only me left,” said a small 
voice, and from behind the leather chair 
swaggered Napoleon. Yer money or yer life 
or me fer all th’ evenin’. Take yer choice, 
Mr. Beau, ’n’ be quick ’bout it,” he muttered, 
trembling meanwhile as he heard Jack and 


201 


THE TRAIL OF THE GO-HAWKS 


Donald departing, realizing that he was the 
last of the Go-Hawks to do the bloody 
night^s work/^ 

Oh, if it is a choice for my life, money or 
you, I prefer my life, so here is some money, 
and now clear out and I will settle you kids 
another time.” 

Napoleon was not slow to follow directions 
and immediately joined his companions, who 
had waited for him at the corner. 

^'My eyes! But they were frightened,” 
said Donald. ^‘Fm kind a-glad we didn’t 
have t’ hurt anybody.” 

^^So’m I,” responded Jack, “but it was 
a great night’s work. I say, I b’lieve there 
can be good bus’ness done a-helpin’ beaux 
’long, doin’ errands for ’em an’ then leavin’ 
’em ’lone ’stead of stayin’ with ’em.” 

“How’d we get all th’ beaux?” asked 
Donald. 


'202 


THE TRAIL OF THE GO-HAWKS 


^^Oh, we’d have t’ hunt ’em up, same as 
any other bus’ness,” answered Jack. 

^^I’m ’fraid all th’ Go-Hawks’d make too 
many t’ do it,” said Donald. 

^^Then we might have just us three, Pat, 
Prue an’ Piggy ’cause he gave us th’ idea 
an’ we’ll call ourselves ^ Beau Runters.’ ^Runt- 
ers’ is in honor o’ Piggy. We’ll have an 
office in our barn an’ I think we can get a 
lot o’ bus’ness.” 

^^We might think it all over to-night an’ 
in th’ mornin’ we’ll get th’ squaws an’ plan 
it all out,” suggested Donald. 

The other two assented and the three 
senior members of the newly organized Beau 
Runters” separated at the corner, each 
youngster holding fast to his money and 
congratulating himself on the evening’s work. 


203 


The Beau Renter Agency. 


At an early hour the following morning 
the six '‘Beau Runters^' met to discuss their 
campaign. Jack, with characteristic energy, 
had swept a comer of the bam-loft and there 
established the office of the new agency which 
was destined to create such a ripple of fun 
the coming fortnight in the town, and ever 
after to occupy a unique place in its history. 

In imagination each boy had spent many 
times the money he had earned the night 
before. In tmth, Napoleon had assisted in 
purchasing the supplies which had furnished 


204 


THE TRAIL OF THE GO-HAWKS 


a breakfast for his mammy and her flock of 
pickaninnies. 

It must Ve felt grand t^ sit in th^ library 
an^ wait for th^ beau and his girl t’ come” 
wistfully remarked Patience. 

^'We prayed for you, that th’ Lor^d spare 
you all if th^ battle was fierce, said Prudence, 
who was a regular attendant at Sunday school 
and prone to invoke the divine blessing at 
all times. 

^^I^d my bow an^ arrow ready t' shoot at 
th’ first show of trouble, an^ yet I hoped we’d 
have no battle ’cause Piggy’s earnin’ his 
livin’ off 'em,” answered the peaceably in- 
clined chief of the Go-Hawks. 

''I was just a-thinkin’,” remarked Piggy, 
^'if we’re goin’ t’ have a reg’lar agency t’ look 
after beaux an’ their girls you kids had orter 
get yer own, ’cause I can take care o’ this 
one. I didn’t care course, ’cause you learned 


205 


THE TRAIL OF THE GO-HAWKS 


how off him last night, but you kids had 
orter keep yer mitts off him now/^ 

^'That^s so/^ answered Jack, ^^well, let^s 
see, Don, you said th' girl who lives next door 
t’ you had a lot, an’ th’ girl who lives down 
on this corner has a beau who comes ev’ry 
Sunday night an’ — ” 

^^An’ my Sunday school teacher has a 
beau, ’cause he comes t’ walk home with 
her from Sunday school,” interrupted Pru- 
dence. 

That’s good, — that’ll give us a beau 
apiece to start with,” said Jack. 

'^ Father said ev’rybody ought t’ be bus’- 
ness-like,” chimed in one of the squaws, 
who was inclined to quote her father on all 
occasions. 

'‘Then we’d better print bus’ness cards t’ 
use,” said Jack, who had thoughtfully pro- 
vided the office with some of his mother’s 


206 


THE TRAIL OF THE GO-HAWKS 


monogram stationery. He now took a sheet 
and printed: 

BOW RENTER AGENCY 
Pawnee Dirt Lodge 
Broken Arrow Town 
WILL HELP ALL GIRLS OUT 
WITH BOWS CHEEP 
Special Rates Summer - Nights 


How's that?" asked the author, holding 
up the card for inspection. 

That's great," said one. 

Let's print 'em right away an' get t' 
workin'," urged Napoleon, who yearned to 
make enough that he might have some hopes 
of a treat. 

The suggestion was adopted ; by noon 
the cards were printed, and the agents in- 
structed to start work that afternoon. The 
available beaux were apportioned out. 


207 



THE TRAIL OF THE GO-HAWKS 


^^You must go up each an’ introduce 
yburself,” instructed Jack. ^^Tell ’em you 
b’long t’ th’ ‘Beau Runter Agency’ an’ that 
we deal only in high class beaux. Then ask 
if they have any errands t’ run or notes t’ 
carry t’ their girls. If they say they haven’t 
any then tell ’em you’ll call ev’ry day an’ 
you’ll ’predate it if they’ll save all their work 
for you. Then go t’ their girl an’ do just th’ 
same thing.” 

“An’ I’ll tell you a good way,” interrupted 
Piggy Runt, who now that his own rights 
were to be respected was generous enough to 
offer helpful hints. Who was better versed 
than he in the art of persecuting beaux, — for 
had he not enjoyed several weeks’ experience? 
“When you see a beau an’ his girl on th’ 
street,” said Piggy, “walk right ’long ’side 
’em an’ sure as shootin’ th’ beau’ll pay you 
t’ go ’way. If th’ girl is sittin’ on th’ front 


208 


THE TRAIL OF THE GO-HAWKS 


steps with her beau just walk up an^ sit down 
^side ^em an^ say you've come t' stay all th' 
evenin' — an' most likely you'll get some money 
if you promise t' go home." 

‘^That's a great scheme, Piggy, an' it's 
peachy of you t' tell us," cried Jack. “I 
don't b'lieve there's ever been anybody in th' 
beau bus'ness an' we ought t' make money." 

Don't you think we'd better not tell any- 
body 'bout it, only th' beaux an' their girls, 
'cause other folks mighten understand an' 
we don't want our bus'ness spoiled until 
we've had a chance t' make some money," 
warned Donald. 

^^One week I made a dollar," boasted 

Piggy- 

“A dollar!" gasped Napoleon. “Mebbe if 
I work as hard as I kin I kin make 'nough 
money t' buy some new pants by th' time 
school opens." 


209 


THE TRAIL OF THE GO-HAWKS 


Jack looked keenly at Napoleon and vowed 
that he should have the best beau of the whole 
lot. tell you, kid, s^pose you take that 
laughy fellow in th^ shoe store — he goes with 
th^ girl on our corner an’ she laughs a lot, too.” 

“Mebbe they’re a-laughin’ too much,” 
chimed in Donald. 

Napoleon gladly assented, and so great was 
his zeal to please that he even washed his 
hands and face before starting forth a few 
hours later. He concluded it would be a 
waste of time to minister unto his feet the 
same attention. They’d get all dirty goin’ 
down,” he muttered apologetically. 

He located his ^^beau” without difficulty 
and was much encouraged to find him smiling 
as Jack had foretold. Here’s my card,” he 
began bashfully, as he fished from his pocket 
a soiled piece of pasteboard. “I want t’ go 
t’ work for you an’ your girl.” 


210 


THE TRAIL OF THE GO-HAWKS 


'^You do, do you?” and the ^^beau” 
laughed heartily as he viewed the little chap, 
whose face was upturned to his so anxiously. 

I want t^ carry notes an' help you 'long 
with her,” continued Napoleon seriously. 

did not know we needed any help, but 
I would not be at all surprised if we did.” 

Ain't you got a note t' send her now?” 
asked Napoleon. It'll only cost you a 
nickel.” 

The ‘'beau” hesitated and then said, 
“ Perhaps it would be a good plan to employ 
you, for I was just thinking I would like to 
send her a note,” and he good-naturedly 
scratched off a note of introduction for his 
new employe. 

“Please save all your jobs for me. I'll be 
'round of'en. Thankee, sir,” said Napoleon 
with dignity as he took the money and started 
forth. 


'211 


THE TRAIL OF THE GO-HAWKS 


Good fortune favored him, for he found the 
girl at home. I brung you a note from yer 
beau an^ he looked eggzactly like he wanted 
an answer,” began Napoleon enticingly. ‘Tt^ll 
only cost yer a nickel an’ I’ll try t’ get it 
there clean. Here’s my card. I b’long t’ 
th’ ^Beau Runter Agency.’” 

^^I am sure this is a bargain,” answered 
the delighted young woman, her face suf- 
fused with smiles as she read the note. In 
reply she wrote, ‘'The little stick of sugar- 
cane awaits without my door for the answer 
for which he assures me you are yearning. 
Isn’t this too comical?” 

“Have you been in business long?” asked 
the girl as she handed the lad the note and a 
five-cent piece. 

“Just to-day,” he answered, “an’ I’m only 
goin’ t’ work for you an' yer beau an’ I’ll see 
yer ev’ry day ’cause I want t’ make money. 


212 


THE TRAIL OF THE GO-HAWKS 


I have help my ole mammy an^ I want some 
new pants an^ so I must work hard. Must 
hike now an' get this down t' yer beau," he 
concluded in haste. 

Not alone Napoleon, but all the ‘^Beau 
Runters" met with flattering success that 
first afternoon. The novelty of the enter- 
prise appealed to its victims, and notes flew 
back and forth. 

Seems t' me like all th' beaux were just 
a-waitin' for us t' carry notes," said Jack 
enthusiastically to his co-workers late the 
next afternoon. ‘^Oh, it's a great bus'ness." 
He then carefully instructed Napoleon as to 
the comer at which he might hope to waylay 
his employers that evening about dusk. 

So intensely absorbed was Napoleon in 
his commission that he stood patiently at 
his post for fully half an hour. At last he 
saw them — his '‘beau an' girl" — coming slow- 


213 


THE TRAIL OF THE GO-HAWKS 


ly down the street in the summer twilight. 
He looked at them anxiously, for they repre- 
sented his working capital, and in them lay 
his hope of patchless pants. They were 
talking and laughing brightly as they neared 
him. ^^It’s so comical and I enjoy encourag- 
ing the kids,’’ the girl was saying as they 
approached. 

Then Napoleon stepped forth. ^^Got any 
work fer me t’ do this evenin’?” 

^‘Why, bless me, here is my employe. 
Where did you come from? ” asked the beau, 
and the boy felt relieved to have him speak 
thus pleasantly. 

‘‘Been a-waitin’ fer you all th’ evenin’ an’ 
I guess I’ll walk home with you,” replied 
Napoleon, remembering the advice of Piggy. 

“ I must say I like your industry, little chap, 
but I do not want to work you too hard. Do 
all the ‘Beau Runters’ work as hard as you?’^ 


214 


THE TRAIL OF THE GO-HAWKS 


^‘Yeppy, they ^ re all out a-workin^ to-night 
an^ I guess we^re goin^ t^ sit ev'ry night with 
th^ beaux an^ their girls. It^s our business an^ 
th^ chief says weVe got to Tend strictly t^ 
business, so come on an’ let’s go home.” 

The ruddy cheeked employer’s eyes twin- 
kled, but there was also an air of annoyance 
as he said: Suppose you permit us this 
evening to proceed alone.” 

^‘I’ll give you a bargain an’ not charge 
much for this evenin’ ’thout me,” answered 
the boy. 

^^We hate to part with you, of course, but 
here is a dime for you. You need not bother 
to hunt us up every night.” 

'^But I want t’ work hard t’ earn my livin’, 
so I’ll see yer to-morrow. Good-night!” 

As enthusiastic and loyal ‘‘Beau Runters” 
the twins had experienced serious difficulty 
at times in eluding the watchful eyes of Aunt 


215 


THE TRAIL OF THE GO-HAWKS 


Sallie, and sometimes there would be whole 
days when it was impossible to attend to 
their work as closely as might be desired. 
However, they were able to earn enough to 
keep their interest stimulated. 

The seriousness with which the ^‘Beau 
Runters^^ transacted business was one of its 
most attractive features to their clients. 
The Agency flourished for ten days and 
the ambitions of its members grew propor- 
tionately. At a special meeting of the chil- 
dren called on the eleventh morning, Jack 
asked for any suggestions whereby their field 
of usefulness might be extended, so to speak. 

“Fve been a-thinkin^ o’ somethin’,” 
promptly answered Prudence, who had ex- 
perienced more trouble even than usual the 
past two days in separating herself from 
Aunt Sallie, ^Hhat p’rhaps we might get 
beaux for th’ girls who don’t have any. You 


216 


THE TRAIL OF THE GO-HAWKS 


see if auntie only had a beau then she wouldn^t 
have so much time t^ watch us an^ we could 
get away easier.” 

“Yes, an^ then we could do a lot o^ work at 
home like Piggy does,” added Patience. 

“Did she ever have a beau, so we^d know 
what kind she likes?” asked Jack. 

“No, I never saw any,” answered Prudence. 
“ I thought first Fd give her a card an^ ask F 
work for her an^ her ^beau^ but she hasn^t 
any so I couldn^t. She^s so good Fm Traid 
she might not want t^ try t^ get a beau for 
herself, so I think we^d better surprise 
her.” 

“I think we^d better get her six beaux 
while we’re doin’ it, then we can each have 
one t’ work for,” suggested Napoleon, who 
yearned for more worlds to conquer. 

“I’m a-thinkin’ she might not like one we 
pick out,” said Donald. 


217 


THE TRAIL OF THE GO-HAWKS 


^^Oh, yes, she will, for auntie’s such a 
grateful lady she’ll ’predate our work,” re- 
plied Patience. 

''If we have good luck gettin’ Aunt Sallie 
beaux then we might hunt up a lot o’ girls who 
haven’t any an’ get ’em all beaux. It won’t 
s’rprise me if we get so busy we can’t go t’ 
school,” concluded Jack. 

"Hooray! That’d suit me ’cause I hate 
school,” said Piggy. 

"It’s a worthy work an’ we seem t’ make 
lots o’ folks glad. Ev’rybody laughs an’ 
laughs while we’re workin’ for ’em,” Prudence 
remarked. 

"I guess they do. My beau an’ his girl 
are allers a-laughin’ when I come up — ^an’ 
they’re rich, too,” chimed in Napoleon. 

" I told yer beaux were rich as gold mines, 
an’ I know,” interrupted Piggy with great 
superiority. 


218 


THE TRAIL OF THE GO-HAWKS 


Who^d we better get for auntie? asked 
Patience. 

‘^Course they ought t^ be beaux without 
any wives or girls.^^ 

^^An’ we better not get ^em all in th^ same 
business so she can choose/^ added Donald. 

‘‘Fm a-thinkin’ th^ preacher isnT married 
an^ I should think she^d love t' have th^ 
preacher/’ said Patience. 

“My editor isn’t married an’ I never saw 
th’ undertaker with a girl,” said Jack. 

“Only dead one, p’rhaps,” somberly sug- 
gested Donald. 

“An’ if he had a reg’lar girl of his own 
course he’d want t’ take her ridin’ some days 
sure,” asserted Napoleon. 

“I don’t think auntie’d like t’ ride on th’ 
hearse,” asserted Patience. 

“ I do, an’ I think it’d be perfec’ly stylish 
an’ she could be a help at th’ fun’rals. She’d 


219 


THE TRAIL OF THE GO-HAWKS 


probably have t’ go somewhere ev^ry day, too, 
an^ thatM be a help, ’cause while she’s gone 
we’ll do our other work,” was the enthusiastic 
rejoinder of Prudence. 

guess she’d better have the undertaker 
then,” remarked Jack, ’cause if he was 
her beau most likely he’d keep her busy.” 

I choose her t’ have a baker,” said Piggy, 
smacking his lips in anticipation of the pos- 
sibilities. 

“An’ I a banker with lots o’ money,” de- 
manded Donald. 

“An’ you’d better choose a groceryman, 
Napoleon, ’cause he’d most likely give you 
somethin’ t’ eat ev’ry time you went t’ see 
him,” said Jack. “I’ll take th’ editor, Prue 
th’ undertaker an’ Pat can have th’ preacher.” 

“Wish you an’ th’ squaws’d try t’ get all 
these while th’ rest of us kids are doin’ 
th’ other work; couldn’t you?” asked Piggy. 


220 


THE TRAIL OF THE GO-HAWKS 


^'Auntie said we could play over here all 
th* mornin' an^ so perhaps we^d better go an^ 
Hend t’ it ^cause mebbe we can’t come over 
this afternoon,” said one of the squaws. 

''All right then, come on,” replied Jack, 
and the trio started forth. "We’ll take 
turns doin’ th’ talkin’ an’ let’s start at th’ 
undertaker’s. You must talk there, Prue.” 

Prudence and Jack, at least, walked with 
considerable assurance into the undertaker’s 
parlors where they found Aunt Sallie’s pro- 
spective "beau” reading the morning paper, 
from which he raised his eyes and nodded 
quite pleasantly for a man with so melan- 
choly a calling. 

"Mr. Undertaker,” began the spokesman 
bravely, "we’re helpers t’ beaux. Have you 
a girl?” 

"What!” he cried. "A girl? No, I never 
have time for such foolishness.” 


221 


THE TRAIL OF THE GO-HAWKS 


Jack rather resented the words. I should 
think there were a lot of things worse you 
might do than have a girl,” he said with some 
spirit. 

^‘You see, it^s just this way,” continued 
Prudence; ^^we^re in business, helpin’ beaux 
an’ girls ’long an’ we’ve decided to get some 
beaux for th’ girls who haven’t any. Our 
auntie hasn’t any so we’re goin’ t’ get her 
some. She’d make a good girl for you.” 

The undertaker plainly hesitated. 

She’s so cheerful,” continued the child; 
^^we thought she could ride with you on th’ 
hearse an’ p’rhaps sing at th’ fun’rals. If 
you think you’d like t’ have her for your girl 
we’ll fix it all up for you for one dollar, an’ 
you may come t’ call on her to-night, an’ 
we’ll help you right ’long t’ get ’quainted.” 

‘'Well, did I ever!” ejaculated the under- 
taker. 


222 


THE TRAIL OF THE GO-HAWKS 


“If you’re not engaged for a fun’ral to- 
night you might like t’ come up an’ invite her 
t’ go ridin’/’ suggested Jack, who was anxious 
to close the deal. 

“You’d better pay for her now,” said 
Patience. 

The undertaker’s head was hidden for a 
minute and when he raised it his face was 
quite red. “I don’t have any too much fun 
in my life,” he said, “and this is worth a 
dollar.” Putting his hand in his pocket he 
drew forth a dollar and handed it to Prudence. 

“Aunt Sallie’s worth more’n a dollar, an’ 
you’ll prob’bly think so when you’ve seen 
her,” said Jack loyally. 

“Most likely,” the undertaker responded 
as the trio started away. 

Jack was the spokesman at the editor’s, 
with whom he seemed on very friendly terms. 
From force of habit the editor began to 


223 


THE TRAIL OF THE GO-HAWKS 


smile when his eyes fell on the youngster in 
whom he delighted. Jack explained their 
errand, displayed the business card and con- 
cluded : Of course you know very well 
that Miss Sallie^s worth more’n a dollar an’ 
she’s a great bargain at that.” 

^^Miss Sallie would be a bargain at any 
price,” gallantly replied the editor. ‘^Have 
you told her this new plan for her benefit?” 

“Oh, no,” answered Prudence, “we’ve 
found it much better t’ s’rprise her in ’most 
ev’rything we do.” 

“I am not surprised at that,” laughed the 
editor. 

“Yes, an’ we’d like t’ have you call an’ 
see her to-morrow night. She has an en- 
gagement with th’ undertaker for to-night. 
She’s very pretty,” concluded the child. 

“If you don’t care we’d like t’ collect in 
advance. We know she’ll suit you, but if 


224 


THE TRAIL OF THE GO-HAWKS 


she shouldnH, we^ll give you your money 
back/^ said Jack. 

“The idea alone is worth a dollar to me/' 
responded the editor smiling, as his hand 
sought his pocket. 

The young minister who was next inter- 
viewed yearned to grow nearer the hearts of 
the children and greeted his callers pleasantly. 

“Fm Patience Trevellyn an' we're now in 
th' beau bue'ness. Have you a girl?" The 
speaker went straight to the question at 
issue. 

“I can't say that I have," replied the 
minister, blushing guiltily. 

“ We'd like t' sell you our Aunt Sallie for a 
dollar. She's most worthy an' prays just 
beautiful. Wouldn't you like t' have such a 
girl for your very own? She has no beaux, 
an' if you've no girl then don't you see you 
could both get fixed at once?" 


225 


THE TRAIL OF THE GO-HAWKS 


'^What!’^ the minister gasped in astonish- 
ment. ^‘Does your father and your aunt 
know where you are this morning?^’ 

‘‘Oh, yes, we^re over t’ Jack^s playin^ 
Sunday school. It’s our fav’rite game,” 
glibly answered the child. 

“Were these three children a fair type of 
those in his parish over whom his heart 
had been yearning so tenderly?” he asked 
himself. 

“We’re thinkin’ o’ bein’ missionaries when 
we grow up an’ we have some poor folks now 
we want t’ help,” declared Prudence with 
sudden inspiration. “ So your dollar ’ll be 
put t’ a worthy use an’ you’ll like that, won’t 
you? Can’t you come over t’ see auntie 
night after to-morrow night? She’s engaged 
for to-night and to-morrow night. It’s t’ th’ 
undertaker an’ th’ editor, you know,” con- 
cluded the child. 


226 


THE TRAIL OF THE GO-HAWKS 


The minister's sense of humor clamored to 
be heard. “It does seem as though she 
needs a minister under the circumstances/' 
he mused aloud. Thereupon he took out his 
purse and handed Jack a dollar. 

“ We're sure you an' Aunt Sallie '11 be 
pleased with each other, an' we know she 
can help you out at prayer meetin'," de- 
clared Patience, as they said good-bye. 

“Jack, I feel exactly like missionaries doin' 
this worthy work," said Prudence earnestly 
as they walked towards the bank. “ Father 
says we ought t' think more 'bout givin' 
happiness t' ev'ryone 'bout us. Just think 
when we get through this mornin' we'll have 
six beaux for auntie an' that's most likely 
more beaux than any other girl ever got in 
one day!" 

“Yes, I think she'll be pleased an' we're 
not only doin' somethin' for auntie, but 


227 


THE TRAIL OF THE GO-HAWKS 


we’re helpin’ all o’ us t’ earn some money. 
Here we are at th’ bank.” 

The children entered the bank with as much 
unconcern as though selling Aunt Sallie was 
no unusual affair. They approached one of 
the windows and Jack said with his best air 
of politeness: '‘May we speak t’ th’ biggest 
man in th’ bank who hasn’t a wife nor a girl? ” 

"What did you say?” asked the teller in 
astonishment. 

The question was repeated and the man 
replied : " I believe the vice-president would 
about fill the bill and here he comes now. 
Go and tell him what you want.” 

The children unhesitatingly approached 
Aunt Sallie’s prospective adorer, looking into 
his face with the frank eyes of childhood. 
Since he was a stranger, the task was a little 
more difficult than usual. 

"I’m Jack Carroll,” began the chief of the 


228 



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THE TRAIL OF THE GO-HAWKS 


Go-Hawks, ^‘an^ these girls are Patience and 
Prudence Trevellyn, an^ we’re lookin’ for 
beaux for their Aunt Sallie, an’ if you 
haven’t a girl we’ll let you be her beau for 
a dollar, an’ Donald ’ll run your errands an’ 
work for you both an’ kind o’ help things 
’long.” 

'‘And who may Donald be, pray?” 

"He is Donald Brown. You see, we’ve 
formed an agency t’ help beaux ’long,” vol- 
unteered one of the girls for the enlighten- 
ment of her prospective uncle. 

The future admirer of Miss Sallie asked 
the same foolish question they all did, — " Does 
your aunt know you are working in her 
cause? ” 

"Oh, no, we haven’t told her, for we 
haven’t had time t’ tell her yet, but she’ll 
prob’bly be pleased,” replied Patience sooth- 
ingly. 


229 


THE TRAIL OF THE GO-HAWKS 


thought we^d charge you a dollar 
for auntie, an^ we^d like you t^ come t^ see 
her two nights after to-night. Fd ask you 
t^ come V see her before, but she^s very busy 
an^ has engagements with th^ undertaker, 
th^ editor, an^ th’ minister. She^s so per- 
fectly stylish that shetll look very nice sittin' 
in your bank window when th^ circus parade 
goes by,tt concluded Prudence. 

To the childrents amazement the man 
burst into laughter. ^^You are right in 
selecting a banker for it does seem as though 
one would be needed. Is Aunt Sallie young 
or old, may I ask?^' 

'^Shets older than we are. Kind o^ oldish, 
mebbe,tt thoughtfully answered Prudence. 

She^s a sure bargain, sir, for her cheeks are 
like roses an^ she’s never cross,” added Jack. 

I am not the man to resist such a treasure. 
Here is your dollar, and please tell the fair 


230 


THE TRAIL OF THE GO-HAWKS 


lady that this is one of the happiest days of 
my life. If you have any more such bar- 
gains to offer while in business do not fail to 
look me up.’^ The children heard him laugh- 
ing as they left the bank. 

It seems t^ me like everyone is so pleased 
over gettin^ auntie,” commented Prudence, 
who had no reason to change her opinion 
even after the baker and the grocery-man had 
been interviewed. 

When the children returned home at noon 
their faces wore such blissful expressions of 
contentment that Aunt Sallie's heart was 
filled with premonition of coming disaster. 
The twines eyes seemed fastened on her. 
However, she asked no questions. As for 
the ^^Beau Runters,” little did they dream 
that very night the agency was doomed to die. 

Professor Trevellyn returned home a half 
hour earlier than usual that evening and 


231 


THE TRAIL OF THE GO-HAWKS 


called his sister to the study. ^^Sallie/^ he 
began soberly, all the while with a merry 
twinkle in his eyes, I am sorry that we are 
about to lose you.’^ 

^^Lose me? What do you mean, Philip?^' 
had occasion to stop at the club on my 
way home, and my friend, the editor of the 
^‘Enquirer,^^ told me that he had enjoyed 
the most unique experience of his life this 
morning with my daughters and young 
Carroll, who had interviewed him on the 
possibilities of his becoming your '^beau.'^ 
He said that he had purchased the rights to 
call on you and look you over to-morrow 
evening for one dollar.” 

‘‘Philip!” cried Miss Sallie aghast. 

“Yes, it is true; but, my dear, you must 
expect such things when you have such 
precocious children for nieces. I am not 
positive as to the number of beaux you will 


232 


THE TRAIL OF THE GO-HAWKS 


soon have, for the new vice-president of the 
First National Bank came in while we were 
talking and asked if I objected to his be- 
coming an admirer of yours; said that he 
had paid a dollar for the privilege and was 
assured that he was getting a bargain at 
that/’ 

Miss Sallie left her brother without another 
word and went to search for the twins whom 
she found on the lawn. She spoke to them 
more sternly than ever before. “Children, 
tell me this minute where you went this 
morning and what you did? If you don’t tell 
me everything I will punish you severely.” 

“We were with Jack doin’ some worthy 
work, an’ auntie, dear, we have a beautiful 
s’rprise for you that begins to-night an’ — ” 

Miss Sallie groaned aloud at this confirma- 
tion of her worst fears. “Tell me at once 
what you children have done.” 


233 


THE TRAIL OF THE GO-HAWKS 


Don’t hold my hand so tight an’ I’ll 
tell,” began Prudence. We’ve been helpin’ 
beaux an’ their girls ’long for two weeks, an’ 
we thought this mornin’ that you’d like t’ 
have some beaux ’cause you haven’t any an’ 
they’re nice t’ have. Wouldn’t you, auntie 
darling?” she concluded. 

^'Go on — ” was the only response. 

^^Then we thought up all th’ people who 
hadn’t any girls an’ we’ve got you six beaux 
— an’ they each gave us a dollar for you — an’ 
they were so pleased that they laughed ’most 
all th’ time, an’ th’ undertaker’s cornin’ to- 
night — if he don’t have a fun’ral — an’ Jack 
thinks mebbe he’ll bring his hearse an’ take 
you ridin’, an’ we’re all goin’ t’ earn our 
livin’s off you an’ your beaux an’ — an’ — ^why, 
dear a-u-n-t-i-e, you’re cryin’. Don’t you like 
gettin’ some beaux? The minister was just 
sweet ’bout it an’ I told him you could pray 


234 


THE TRAIL OF THE GO-HAWKS 


so lovely — an^ — an' are you cryin' just 'cause 
you're so glad — auntie?" 

The children had never seen Aunt Sallie 
weep. When she turned from them with 
her face flushed and her eyes full of angry 
tears they were appalled. 

^^What do you ever s' pose is th' matter 
with auntie?" queried Patience. 

‘^It seems t' me there isn't anything t' 
cry 'bout, an' we each have a whole dollar," 
replied Prudence wonderingly. 

A half hour later two little girls with red 
and swollen eyes, representing one-third of 
the working force in the ^‘Beau Runter" 
agency, came slowly forth from their father's 
study, where they had tarried this long by 
request. 


235 



The GoHawks As Missionaries. 


The illustrious tribe of Go-Hawks and 
members of the agency of ^^Bow Runters” 
had trudged their weary way back and forth 
to school for four long weeks since the event- 
ful day, when six times over they sold the 
privilege of being Aunt Sallie’s beau. So 
sincere had been the efforts in her behalf that 
the disastrous ending was now spoken of in 
whispers. 

Miss Sallie had watched the twins closely, 
fearful when they were out of her sight lest 


236 



THE TRAIL OF THE GO-HAWKS 


they should be in some new piece of mischief, 
and the only really happy moments she* knew 
were those of school hours. Even a month 
of peace among the Go-Hawks did not en- 
tirely allay her fears. Shocked and grieved 
as she had been, she found it impossible to 
remain angry with the girls and Jack. Like 
the majority of children they were lovable 
even during the somewhat too frequent 
periods of mischievous activity. 

Of all the Go-Hawks these three apparently 
required most often an outlet for their rest- 
less energy; following closely in their wake 
were Piggy and Donald with faithful Napoleon 
close behind. The latter perhaps felt that 
something might separate him from close 
intimacy with his beloved leader, Jack. All 
unconsciously he clung to the tender years 
that knew not the difference of race and class 
distinction. Even as Jack was bom to lead, 


237 


THE TRAIL OF THE GO-HAWKS 


so was he to protect, and he had championed 
the weaker lad ever since they were in kinder- 
garten at the age of five. He was responsible 
for so many of Napoleon^s good times that 
the latter felt a devotion which was some- 
times almost more than his heart could sup- 
port. 

It was natural when Napoleon failed to 
make his appearance at school for two days, 
that Jack should feel it necessary to return 
home the second afternoon by way of the 
outskirts of the town where the boy lived. 
He whistled shrilly in the yard rather than 
approach the door, and was much pleased 
when his signal was answered in person by 
Napoleon. 

^‘What^s th^ matter, kid, — ^why haven't 
you been t' school?" he asked; ‘^are you 
sick?" 

^‘Nope, but mammy's got th' rheumatiz in 


238 


THE TRAIL OF THE GO-HAWKS 


her legs an’ can’t walk, an’ so I got ter stay 
home an’ take keer o’ th’ other kids.” 

Are you doin’ th’ cookin’ an’ everything?” 

“Yep, but ’taint hard, ’cause we ain’t got 
nothin’ much t’ cook,” said the boy candidly. 
“Don’t know what we’ll do when we use up 
all th’ money out o’ th’ blue chiny pot.” 

“When does th’ doctor say she’ll be well?” 

“Ain’t had no doctor, costs too much. 
Baby’s kind o’ sick, too.” 

“I wish you’d a father t’ help,” said Jack. 

“I don’t mind much ’bout that ’cause I 
never liked th’ one I did have. He never 
done nothin’ ’cept lick us an’ my ole mammy 
done all th’ work. There’s th’ baby cryin’ 
now ’n’ I bet Abraham Lincoln’s done gone 
an’ dropped it.” Napoleon turned to enter 
the house. “Don’t know when I kin come 
t’ school — ^you come down agin.” 

Jack walked away in thought, for he was 


239 


THE TRAIL OF THE GO-HAWKS 


accustomed to shouldering Napoleon^s bur- 
dens. When he reached home the first 
question he asked his mother was ^^When 
a person has th’ rheumatism how long does 
it last?^’ 

Sometimes a good many months, dear,’’ 
was the reply; '^why do you ask?” 

\ ^^Oh, Napoleon’s mother has it an’ you 
know she goes out t’ wash ev’ry day. His 
father’s dead you know. Napoleon has t’ 
stay home from school an’ take care of her 
an’ the children an’ cook too,” he explained. 

*That is a great deal for one little boy 
to do.” 

‘‘He said th’ cookin’ wasn’t so bad ’cause 
they didn’t have much t’ cook,” answered 
Jack. “ I wish we could help ’em some. He 
belongs t’ our tribe, you know. Say, mother, 
what was that paper that a man brought here 
last night an’ you an’ father each wrote down 


240 


THE TRAIL OF THE GO-HAWKS 


what you’d do — a description, wasn’t it?” 

“Oh, you mean a subscription list and we 
wrote opposite our names so much, pledging 
to give that amount.” 

“If I get up one, will you care? For Na- 
poleon’s mother?” 

“ I love to have you wish to help those less 
fortunate than yourself. Jack, and if you will 
only be careful to whom you take the list,” 
replied Mrs. Carroll slowly. 

“I thought I’d take it t’ all the Go-Hawks, 
t’ you an’ father an’ mebbe one or two other 
friends.” 

The boy had been responsible for so much 
mischief in the neighborhood that the mother 
felt she would love to see him instrumental 
in lending assistance to the family she knew 
to be in real need. 

“I can haul the things over there myself 
in my express wagon an’ th’ squaws can help,” 


241 


THE TRAIL OF THE GO-HAWKS 


continued the lad, beginning as usual to plan 
everything. Accepting his mother^s silence 
for consent he went to her desk, and taking 
a sheet of paper wrote in his round, boyish 
hand: Napoleon’s mother is in soar need. 
She has rumatism and cant wash. All of us 
who sign here below will send her what we 
promise.” The lad pondered deeply as he 
signed his own name writing after it ‘^My 
old blue suit of clothes for Napoleon.” 

He handed the paper to his mother who 
read it and added her name for twelve loaves 
of bread each week. Jack’s father wrote 
opposite his name a load of coal, while Mary, 
long suffering Mary, was induced to promise 
a jar of cookies. The paper was circulated 
among the Go-Hawks the following day, and 
to a man they scrawled their names for a 
donation. It must be confessed that while 
many of the things they gave away they did 


242 


THE TRAIL OF THE GO-HAWKS 


not care to preserve, the spirit was commend- 
able. 

The twins gleefully promised to contribute 
their bare-back dresses, which Aunt Sallie 
persisted in hanging in plain sight in the 
closet, to remind them how very naughty it 
was to spoil good dresses. After a hurried 
consultation they also wrote after their 
names '^medicine,’’ determining that the 
castor -oil bottle and a few others, against 
which they cherished a special grudge, should 
be sacrificed to the worthy cause.^’ In 
addition to all this generosity they offered to 
take the paper around after school and ask 
some older people to sign it. 

It seemed to Jack a good plan, so after 
being dismissed they made the rounds that 
they had planned during recess. They fol- 
lowed their invariable rule of not consulting 
any one concerning the wisdom of their 


243 


THE TRAIL OF THE GO-HAWKS 


policy until they had secured good results. 

'^Doctor, we want you t^ sign your name to 
this paper for some visits t’ Napoleon^s 
mother t^ make her well, so she can wash,^' 
concluded Jack after he had carefully ex- 
plained to a prominent physician the reason 
for their visit. 

Why didn’t you call the City Physician?” 

^'’Cause we wanted the best in town an’ 
so we came t’ you,” answered Jack promptly. 

The physician’s eyes twinkled at the readi- 
ness of the compliment, and after signing his 
name he wrote, medical assistance towards 
recovery.” 

‘^She’ll get well now, sure,” said Jack to 
the girls as they started down the street. 

^'Course I felt kind o’ funny when auntie 
wouldn’t take th’ undertaker for a beau, but 
I think this is such a worthy cause that it’s 
our duty t’ go in an’ ask him t’ promise a 


244 


THE TRAIL OF THE GO-HAWKS 


coflan if she should die” suggested Prudence. 

^‘What do you want to-day? Have you 
any more aunts to sell?'^ asked the under- 
taker as the children entered his parlor. 

‘^Auntie wouldn’t want us t’ talk any more 
’bout that,” answered Prudence and then 
explained her errand, adding, ‘‘an’ we thought 
it’d be nice t’ have you write down a coffin, 
’cause she may die. You’d just as soon 
wouldn’t you, for it seems like you have more 
cofl&ns than anythin’ else, an’ we ask people 
t’ give us what they’ve got the most of.” 

“You are the queerest youngsters I ever 
did see,” he replied. “I’d just like to know 
if your aunt knows where you are to-day.” 

“You always ask that, Mr. Undertaker,’^ 
answered Patience with dignity. “ She doesn’t 
know where we are, but we’re sure she’ll 
like it, ’cause we’re not askin’ for anythin’ 
for ourselves or our own family.” 


245 


THE TRAIL OF THE GO-HAWKS 


'^Of course you don^t need to send th^ 
coffin ’less she dies/’ added Prudence. 

When the undertaker hesitated, Jack said : 
'^You know it need not be a fine coffin. A 
plain one ’ll do. We’ve such a good doctor 
that I don’t think she’ll die, but we b’lieve 
in bein’ prepared for the worst always. You 
can sign your name right here,” instructed 
the chief, whose faith in humanity was so 
great that he never doubted the result of a 
request. 

The undertaker wrote under his name ‘^pine 
coffin,” smiling whimsically meanwhile and 
muttering to himself as the children walked 
away, The beatenest kids I ever saw. Won- 
der what they’ll come for next?” 

The children asked without hesitation for 
what they wanted from each one they visited. 
In consequence the paper was full and their 
hearts were light as they started home to 


246 


THE TRAIL OF THE GO-HAWKS 


interview Aunt Sallie. When they explained 
to her what they had been doing she took the 
paper nervously and read the list of names, 
dreading, she scarcely knew what. 

She smiled as she saw that many of the 
names were those of men noted for their 
closeness. Probably under no other cir- 
cumstances would they have subscribed a 
penny for the relief of the unfortunate colored 
family, but they could not resist the frank 
trustfulness of the children who never doubted 
their willingness to help. And a little child 
shall lead them,’^ whispered Aunt Sallie 
softly to herself as she signed her own 
name. 

Dears, I will do all that I can to help 
you,’’ she said gently. ‘^Poor little Napoleon 
always has a hard time and we will do all in 
our power that will enable him to return to 
school.” 


247 


THE TRAIL OF THE GO-HAWKS 


'^Auntie, don^t you think this is a worthy 
cause? asked Patience. 

^^Yes, indeed, and to have all this good 
come from the efforts of you children makes 
me very happy, so happy that I could almost 
forget some things that auntie wishes you 
had never done,” she answered. 

‘^Let^s don’t talk ’bout th’ past. Miss 
Sallie/’ said Jack. We’ll make you proud 
of us to-morrow an’ we’re goin’ t’ go after all 
th’ things with my old wagon, so I guess they 
won’t go t’ bed hungry any more.” 

‘‘Th’ doctor said he’d go up to-day, an’ 
we left our castor-oil bottle at the house for 
fear they might need it,” said Patience a little 
fearful, and still, anxious that the change of 
habitation of the hated oil bottle be known. 
However, as the child spoke low Miss Sallie 
did not catch the last of her sentence and in 
consequence still smiled genially at the three. 


248 


THE TRAIL OF THE GO-HAWKS 


Full of their plans they could hardly be 
patient through school hours the next day. 
They exchanged many meaning glances over 
their books, and so great was their desire to 
be at work at the close of school that they 
ran every step of the way home. 

Miss Sallie was careful to put into the wagon 
many substantial comforts. As she watched 
the little procession starting forth to gather 
donations, she smiled at the rear guard of 
the Go-Hawks, who walked a discreet and 
admiring distance behind. 

'^Let^s play we’re soldiers startin’ off 
war. There’s our army behind and this is 
our supply wagon,” said Jack. 

^'An’ we’re red cross nurses,” answered 
Prudence adopting the suggestion immedi- 
ately. We’re goin’ right on the field of 
battle where people ’re dyin’.” 

^^I’m takin’ you to the hospital, young 


249 


THE TRAIL OF THE GO-HAWKS 


women, where our brave General lies dyin^ 
That’s Napoleon’s mother, you know,” ex- 
plained the chief. 

‘‘We’ll make him well, ’cause we’ve had 
much experience. We’ve been in sev’ral 
wars where most ev’ry one died,” replied the 
child. 

“The Gen’ral is shot in her legs,” said the 
chief. “Have you a medicine to cure that?” 

“We’ve sent on ahead both castor oil and 
cough syrup an’ if all is taken it’ll cure shot 
legs,” asserted Patience, who hoped thus to 
demolish both medicines with one blow. 

Before other plans could be matured for 
the relief of the “ Gen’ral,” the army reached 
the scene of action. According to arrange- 
ments, the majority of Go-Hawks lined up 
across the street and only Jack and the twins 
were to enter the cabin. They were scarcely 
admitted to the cramped quarters, where lay 


250 


THE TRAIL OF THE GO-HAWKS 


the ^^Gen’raF^ on her bed of pain, before 
Napoleon called excitedly : Things has been 
a-comin^ all day an^ th^ doctor^s been here 
an^ medicine an^ coal an' heaps an' heaps t' 
eat — hooray! oh, bully! Hooray!" 

^^An' here's a lot more," answered Jack, 
running out to the wagon and bringing in an 
arm load. 

“ Say somethin' t' comfort th' Gen'ral, 
one of you nurses," whispered Jack to the 
twins, who seemed bashful and inclined to 
hang back. ^'You better pray or do some- 
thin'." 

The room seemed full of dusky faces with 
eyes fastened expectantly on the twins, 
while the rheumatic Gen'ral" asked, ^^Did 
you chilluns do all this?" 

^^Yes'm, we did an' there's a lot more 
cornin', if you have need," answered Prudence, 
approaching the bed and eager to follow 


251 


THE TRAIL OF THE GO-HAWKS 


Jack^s instructions to say something com- 
forting. asked th^ undertaker t' give 

you a coffin if you died, so don^t worry ^bout 
that ^cause if you do die we Go-Hawks ^11 get 
up a grand fun^ral.’^ 

^^What!” gasped the woman in super- 
stitious terror at the words of the child which 
she feared might be a warning. 

‘^An^ I tell you if you do die,^^ continued 
the child cheerfully, ^^don^t worry ’bout your 
children, ’cause I promise you t’ take ’em 
all home t’ my aunt an’ she’ll be glad t’ bring 
’em up. She’s bringin’ me an’ my sister 
up an’ she’ll most likely never have any 
children of her own, so prob’bly she’d be 
most delighted to get yours.” 

In reply the General” groaned aloud, 
not at all as one would expect of a brave 
officer, who had no more serious ailment than 
being ^^shot in both legs.” 


252 


THE TRAIL OF THE GO-HAWKS 


^'She^s perfectly stylish, my Aunt Sallie 
is, so your children ^11 be brought up just 
grand,’^ concluded Prudence as a parting 
bit of consolation. 

The chief concluded it was time to go, for 
somehow the nurses did not seem able to give 
just the proper spirit of cheer that was 
needed. As the three joined their waiting 
comrades. Jack said earnestly: ‘^Oh! This 
has been a grand day^s work for the Go- 
Hawks. I guess Napoleon’s folks won’t be 
hungry for a month. I put all th’ money 
in th’ blue pitcher.” 

To these words Donald replied that if they 
ate everything they had they’d all get sick. 
The words passed unheeded by the others 
who discussed the events of the past few 
days as they walked home, and the spirit of 
sacrifice made tender each child’s heart. 

Aunt Sallie and the professor were watch- 


253 


THE TRAIL OF THE GO-HAWKS 


ing for the girls at the study window. The 
former had been telling her brother of the 
efforts the children had made to relieve the 
sufferings of the colored family. Dear little 
souls! They really have accomplished a great 
deal of good the past few days, and yet they 
were so mischievous all summer that at 
times I despaired.’^ 

^^Did you get everything there in safety, 
dears? asked Aunt Sallie. 

^^Oh, yes, all ’cept th^ big things an^ th’ 
coffin an’ that won’t be sent ’less she dies,” 
answered Prudence. ‘‘An’ oh, auntie, it 
was perfec’ly stylish t’ be out doin’ work 
just as big folks do,” continued the child as 
they entered the dining room a few minutes 
later. 

Not long afterwards when bed-time came 
and Prudence kissed her father good-night, 
she whispered, “I wish I could do somethin’ 


254 


THE TRAIL OF THE GO-HAWKS 


for somebody ev’ry day, father, ’cause — 
’cause it makes me feel good inside.” 

Father wishes so too, dear,” he answered 
in a low voice as he kissed her. 

^^And are you happy also, little one?” he 
asked Patience as she drew near. 

Oh, yes, father, I’d rather be a Go-Hawk 
’n be a preacher an’ I think if Napoleon’s 
mother ’d take a whole bottle of castor oil 
it ’d cure her. I think the doctor ought t’ 
tell her to, an’ oh, father, it was grand t’ play 
we were goin’ t’ war an’ I’m goin’ t’ help 
people always, an’ good-night! Good-night!” 
said the child as she kissed her father over 
and over again. 

H: Hi ^ He He 

It seemed to the professor that he had 
been in bed but a few minutes and that the 
arms of the child were still tightly clasped 
about his neck as she rained kisses on his face 


255 


THE TRAIL OF THE GO-HAWKS 


and whispered '^good-night/’ when he was 
suddenly awakened from a deep slumber. 
It was in reality only midnight. 

The same peal of the doorbell roused his 
sister. She had been dreaming of Jack’s 
friend, the editor, who never lost an oppor- 
tunity to tell her that one dollar’s worth of 
herself, for which he had paid cash, belonged 
to him. The bell not only clanged once, but 
many times, and both Miss Sallie and her 
brother hastened into the hall, the latter 
quickly descending the stairs. 

Then Miss Sallie heard an excited voice 
that sounded strangely familiar saying, " It’s 
me an’ I’ve brung ’em all t’ her an’ she’s 
goin’ t’ raise us.” 

"Brought what and to whom, Napoleon?” 
asked Professor Trevellyn, and then he noticed 
what seemed to his eyes to be an endless 
number of dark little faces. 


256 


THE TRAIL OF THE GO-HAWKS 


‘‘Brung all our kids — ^cause mammy says 
she^s goin’ die an^ — an^ — ” the tears were 
rolling down the dark, troubled face. 

Where’s Aunt Sallie, she’s goin’ t’ take keer 
o’ all o’ us. Prue said she’d do it an’ she 
asked us all t’ come here an’ live if mammy 
died and mammy said she thought she was 
a-dyin’ an’ for me t’ come on an’ bring all 
the kids t’ Aunt Sallie. An’ here we are — 
an’ where’s Aunt Sallie, ’cause we’re very 
tired ?” 

Miss Sallie’s face was a study as she stood 
at the top of the landing and quietly beheld 
her new family of sleepy-eyed colored chil- 
dren, the youngest a baby in the arms of 
Napoleon, who leaned wearily against the 
wall. 

^^Just sit down here,” said the professor, 
while I find my sister and tell her you have 
arrived.” 


257 


THE TRAIL OF THE GO-HAWKS 


Professor Trevellyn shook with laughter 
as he joined his sister. “ I see your life work 
has been brought to your door” he began 
teasingly. 

“Philip, if you love me, dress and go for a 
physician and take him to Napoleon’s home. 
I will follow soon with the children. We 
will do what we can for them in their own 
home,” she concluded with much dignity. 

“Then you do not wish me to adopt them? 
Only six, you know, Sallie.” 

She ignored his jesting. “Philip, I wonder 
what the Go-Hawks will do next. Do you 
suppose this is the only family Prudence has 
ordered for me?” 

Later, as Miss Sallie accompanied her small 
charges home through the deserted village 
street, she laughed softly to herself as she 
thought over the events of the past few 
months and pondered over the future. “I 


258 


THE TRAIL OF THE GO-HAWKS 


wonder if all twins are as active as our girls/’ 
she mused. 

Guess th’ Go-Hawks are all in bed/’ ven- 
tured Napoleon, suddenly feeling a sense of 
importance due to the late hour. 

am sure I hope so,” responded Miss 
Sallie. /^I like best to think of them in 
bed.” 

I like ’em best on th’ war-path,” answered 
the boy. “I think we’ll have a war next 
summer for th’ chief said he heard there’s 
goin’ t’ be a new tribe started an’ we’ll fight 
’em if they try t’ steal our trail in th’ 
woods.” 

^^Oh, is your trail in the woods?” asked 
Miss Sallie. ^^It has seemed to me that the 
trail of the Go-Hawks was everywhere one 
would rather not have it.” 

don’t understand,” slowly answered 
Napoleon, ^^but here we are at our house,” 


259 


THE TRAIL OF THE GO-HAWKS 


and he pushed open the door. Why, mammy 
isn’t dead for she’s talkin’,” he continued 
joyously, ^‘so we won’t have t’ live with you 
yet.” 

Professor Trevellyn overheard these words 
to his sister as she entered the dingy room, 
and chuckled to himself. 

sure thought I was goin’ t’ die when I 
sent ’em t’ you,” explained the sick woman. 

I s’pose it’s ’cause I thought so much ’bout 
that coflSn those younguns ordered for me. 
You are not angry with me, are you?” 

^^No indeed! I am very thankful you are 
better,” replied Miss Sallie, as she did what 
she could for the woman’s comfort. 

‘^Having for nieces two squaws who are 
active members of a mighty tribe of Indians 
cause rather unusual complications for an 
aunt,” she remarked to her brother as they 
returned home. 


260 


THE TRAIL OF THE GO-HAWKS 


am beginning to think so myself/^ he 
replied, as he bade her goodnight for the 
second time. 



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